Die Transformation in der ehemaligen DDR und die soziologische Theorie der Modernisierung : Gastvortrag ; öffentlicher Vortrag im Rahmen der Fachbeiratssitzung des Max-Planck-Instituts für Gesellschaftsforschung in Köln, 23. April 1992

The first part of this lecture reconstructs, by help of survey data, the development of objective welfare and subjective welfare of the population of the former GDR (East Germany) since 1990. It can be observed how a definite improvement of incomes concurs with a clear deterioration of the public mood, expressed in dissatisfaction, sorrows and fears (I). In explaining this constellation we draw mostly upon East German authors and their analyses. They demonstrate the breakdown of established ways of life and the paradoxical effects of a "belated distance towards the West" and resistance towards a "liberalization by orders". These features, at present, restrict the positive potentials of the new freedom (II). In the third part transition problems are discussed as a special case of modernization problems. The current theoretical debate on modernization is recapitulated (III). In conclusion, some observations about repercussions of the German transition for the former Federal Republic (West Germany) are noted (IV).