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Chapter
The state of the nation
DOI link for The state of the nation
The state of the nation book
The state of the nation
DOI link for The state of the nation
The state of the nation book
ABSTRACT
On 3 October 1990, West Germany (the Federal Republic of Germany, or FRG) and East Germany (the German Democratic Republic, or GDR) were united, and thus the year 2000 marks the tenth anniversary of unification. Nationwide celebrations are already being planned. Yet 10 years after unification the new Germany is still socially, economically and politically a deeply divided country. Politicians of all colours in Germany have acknowledged this issue, but have come up with different interpretations. At the far-left of the political spectrum, the PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism, succes sor-party to the GDR's Socialist Unity Party or SED) has vehemently blamed west German arrogance and dominance. At the other end of the political spectrum, the right-wing CDU (Christian Democratic Party) has sought to explain the rift by pointing to the ruinous eco nomic and moral legacy of socialism.