German Unification

It is easy in retrospect to ascribe inevitability to Germany's unification in 1990. But in fact, such events are the product of decisions made when the outcomes of a process are not yet clear. A dramatic opening in international relations, an ongoing upheaval in East German politics that put the old state's existence into question, and an economic collapse in East Germany forced policy-makers to seek not only a way out of the crisis but also new, stable structures at all levels. This volume examines these intertwining strands, taking into account both short-term interests and the long-term consequences.