THE EAST-GERMAN DOXA OF DEMOCRACY - A LOC AL CASE-STUDY

The article intends to decode the ''doxa'' of democracy in eastern Ger many, i. e. the ''empirical theory'' of democracy relevant for East Ge rman political actors. By interpreting qualitative data a taxonomy of political ideas is presented which political actors in East Germany wa nt to be ensured by democratic institutions. The data presented here c ome from a community study in an East German town carried out from 199 0 to 1993. Analyzing a natural situation of local politics four basic patterns of democratic order within local power groups are reconstruct ed: redistribution, materialism, concordance, morality. These basic pa tterns are elements of a distinctive political culture distinguishing East Germany from the West.