35 years without borders: The development of the regions along the former inner German border

These differences are particularly evident in political behavior: elections reveal striking differences between eastern and western German regions—for example, in support for the far-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, whose approval ratings are significantly higher east of the former inner-German border. This historical dividing line is thus still visible today and often even runs right through neighboring communities. Against this backdrop, this paper focuses on the so-called border regions. By this we mean communities that lie directly on the former inner-German border. These border areas are particularly well suited for examining developments since reunification because their location meant they were directly affected by the historical division. The aim is to systematically analyze their economic, social, and political development in comparison with other regions. This will reveal which differences remain, where convergence processes have been successful, and in which areas divergences remain visible.