The German Economy since 1989/90: Problems and Prospects

Flockton, Christopher

doi:10.1007/978-1-349-26132-1_4

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…However, considering the divergence of legitimacy beliefs about inequality among former GDR and former FRG citizens after 1991, beliefs about the legitimacy of inequality among former GDR citizens apparently lacked strength and stability. It seems plausible to assume that many East Germans experienced disillusionment, disappointment, and shame when they were hit by economic hardship (e.g., the unemployment rate in the former territory of the GDR grew to about 16 per cent in 1994, see Flockton, ). In turn, and in line with the conjecture that legitimacy is based on emotional experience (e.g., Haack et al, ), negative affect may have reduced the approval rates of capitalism and its characteristics, including inequality, among former GDR citizens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Legitimacy of Inequality: Integrating the Perspectives of System Justification and Social Judgment

Haack

Sieweke

2017

J Management Studies

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To explain the legitimation of inequality among the members of a social system, we blend system justification theory and the theory of social judgment. We identify adaptation and replacement as two major mechanisms of inequality legitimation and examine their influence in the unique setting of a natural experiment, the reunification of socialist East Germany and capitalist West Germany. We show that the new members of a society in which inequality is broadly endorsed and perceived as enduring will adapt to this perception and come to view inequality as acceptable. This process of adaptation reflects the subtle but powerful influence of collective legitimacy on an individual's tacit approval of inequality. Inequality also becomes legitimate as older cohorts are replaced by younger cohorts; however, this effect is weaker than the effect of adaptation. We contribute to the literature by demonstrating that developing and testing a theory of how inequality becomes legitimized can provide new insights into the ideational antecedents of inequality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%