Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is concerned with the marginality of Germans from the former German Democratic Republic and their limited participation in many spheres in the new Germany. It provides an overview of the difficulties of the unification process and how it tended to marginalize East Germans. The book discusses the marginalization of east Germans in the political and governmental arena. It analyzes the various faces of the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS). In eastern Germany the PDS has strong appeal for those who feel disaffected from politics and not represented by the major political parties with power bases in western Germany. The book shows that the radical right has tended to attract those who play marginal roles in society. It illustrates the difficulties involved in unification and the resulting marginalization of East Germans.