The book shows the influence of institutional learning on ideological values. It also demonstrates the limited effect of value diffusion through the former iron curtain. As evidence, the author conducted about two hundred in-depth interviews with eastern and western parliamentarians and compares their views to those of the eastern and western German public. The results document the persistence of socialist views among eastern MPs, and ordinary citizens as well as their low levels of political tolerance.

Moreover, the book shows evidence that these values have changed little since unification.