HSZG Research in the Elite Monitor
New Elitenmonitor Publication: East Germans Remain Underrepresented in Top Positions. The anthology analyzes the causes and offers recommendations for action.
Prof. Raj Kollmorgen of the TRAWOS Institute at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences (HSZG) is conducting research as part of the nationwide Elite Monitor in collaboration with scholars from the Universities of Leipzig and Jena. A new publication from the research project has now been released, addressing the underrepresentation of East Germans in top positions, its causes, and possible courses of action.
The anthology “The Underrepresentation of East Germans in Top Positions in Germany: Dynamics, Causes, and Options for Action” compiles current research findings in 14 chapters. A key finding: Although the proportion of East Germans among Germany’s elites rose between 2018 and 2024, the increase was only slight—from just under 11 to 12 percent.
The articles examine, in particular, factors influencing advancement, career trajectories, and barriers to advancement for East Germans in various sectors of society. In addition, the authors formulate practical recommendations for action aimed at various stakeholders.
A Look at East Germans in Top Positions
The Elitenmonitor has been funded by the federal government since 2022 under the leadership of the Commissioner for Eastern Germany. The research project is being carried out by the University of Leipzig with Prof. Astrid Lorenz and Dr. Lars Vogel, the University of Jena with Prof. Marion Reiser, and the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences with Prof. Raj Kollmorgen.
Key components of the Elite Monitor include an elite database, surveys of members of the elite, and public opinion polls. The focus is on the underrepresentation of East Germans in various elite sectors such as business, law enforcement, mass media, and the judiciary. The project also examines how this underrepresentation can be reduced and how opportunities for social mobility for East Germans can be improved.
The anthology is freely available to all interested readers as an open-access publication:
Lorenz, Astrid/Vogel, Lars/Kollmorgen, Raj/Reiser, Marion (eds., 2026). The Underrepresentation of East Germans in Top Positions in Germany: Dynamics, Causes, and Options for Action. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.
To accompany the research findings, the researchers have also released the six-part podcast“Eliten im Fokus” (Focuson Elites).
For more information about the project team at the TRAWOS Institute at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, as well as about the project and its activities, please visit the project pages.
The Elite Monitor 1 ran from 2022 to 2025. With the Elite Monitor 2 , the research paper will continue from 2025 to 2028.
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