ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the entrance of West German political parties into East Germany, but the political dynamics must surely be understood in the context of a frontal attack on the integrity and political sophistication of the East Germans. The political underpinnings of education were revealed by the political posturing for power as East Germany faced its first free, secret parliamentary elections. Along with political and economic unification, negotiations began concerning educational unification. The Education Ministers of the old states Commission was led by the president of the Standing Conference of Ministers and the state secretary of the Federal Ministry for Education and Science. Higher Education Institutions experienced two major stress points. On the one hand, specific departments were targeted to be abolished or drastically reoriented. One of the critical issues with regard to higher education has been bringing balance into the various states. The West Germans insisted that teacher education be brought in line with the West German tradition.
