Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book looks at the pre-1945 German past, emphasizing Germany's historical search for identity, its legacy of conservative nationalism, the illiberal aspects in its political tradition, and the ongoing debate concerning the true extent of Germany's alleged developmental Sonderweg. It focuses on postwar West Germany, and discusses manifestations of profound change and occasional continuity in both general culture and political culture. The book addresses the issue of identity and national unity from the East German viewpoint between 1949 and 1989. It examines postwar West German diplomacy from an explicitly ideological point of view by delineating Conservative, Liberal, and Social Democratic conceptions in foreign policy, particularly with respect to the question of national unity in the Cold War context. The book reviews the major domestic and international aspects of Germany's reunification process in 1989–1990.