"Much of the detail, statistics and up-to-date material will appeal to academics; it is, however, a useful standard text that could be recommended to students on a range of German and European studies courses requiring Landeskunde on the current situation in the new Germany. The layout and extensive nature of the coverage mean that this well-written book will be valuable for both lecturers and students from a number of disciplines. The editors are to be congratulated on the way in which they have successfully brought together so many contributions from different authors and different areas of expertise." (German Studies) "Aimed at both general readers and students of German, this valuable work with contributions from respected scholars in the field of German studies provides useful background information on contemporary Germany, its institutions and culture with the main focus on 'the experiences of Germans in the new federal states'." (Political Studies, Vol. 45, No. 2, June 1997)
