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Khokhlov N.N. [Dynamics of electoral behavior in East Germany 1990–2025] Political Science and Technology, 2025, Vol. 5, Iss. 4 Available at: https://politicjournal.ru/PDF/06PK425.pdf (in Russian).

Dynamics of electoral behavior in East Germany 1990–2025

Khokhlov Nikita Nikolaevich
State University of Education, Moscow, Russia
E-mail: nikitahohlov22951@gmail.com

Academic adviser: Abramova Yulia Andreevna

Abstract. The aim of this paper is to analyze the factors that determined the electoral behavior of residents of Germany’s eastern states from reunification until the mid-2020s. The relevance of this research stems from the continuing importance of intra-German cleavages for political stability in the Federal Republic of Germany, particularly in the context of the rise of populist movements. The study’s methodological basis is a comparative historical and political science analysis, drawing on scholarly publications on the political transformation of East Germany, as well as statistical data on election results. The paper traces the evolution of party preferences among «Ossies», from support for the unification party through the dominance of the center-left to the rise of left-wing and then right-wing populism. It is noted that the prospects for leveling the electoral landscapes of East and West Germany remain directly linked to successes in overcoming deep structural imbalances and integrating the East German experience into the political life of the entire country. The author concludes that the electoral landscape of the eastern lands is shaped by the complex interweaving of the historical legacy of the GDR («ostalgia», problems of adaptation) and modern challenges (economic crises, migration), which leads to persistent differences with the western lands, which are particularly exacerbated during periods of instability.

Keywords: electoral behavior; residents of the eastern states of Germany; national elections; political transformations in East Germany

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