The transformation of transformation research

It is quite true that a great many research programs have been published, projects carried out and publications distributed concerning the transformation of the political and economic system in what was East Germany. But it is also now becoming clear that demand for information on this subject has reached a certain degree of saturation. People speak of three reasons for this: a ''subjective'' saturation on the part of the recipients, an ''objective'' saturation in terms of research, as the further paths of development are already known, and the idea that continued research is of no benefit because the transformation is, after all, complete. While the last reason may be untenable, the first two reasons are on target insofar as an initial phase of transformation research has been concluded. What is needed now is clear progress in the direction of networking, consistency, comparative research and linking theory to practice. Concrete proposals on how to best achieve these goals are made here.