One or the Other? Yin Yang! Thinking German Culture in Terms of an Integrative Paradigm.

This paper applies the Yin Yang concept to investigate German culture's duality holistically, dialectically and dynamically against the backdrop of Früh & Schönbach's dynamic-transactional approach and the mediatization concept. It is asked in which sense communication, (digital) media and culture are linked. Regarding dynamic duality, German cultural change in values is discussed against its historical background with particular focus on media initiatives during Bismarck's Culture War, the Anti-Socialist-Laws; the revolution of 1968 and recent developments. Concerning dialectic duality, Hofstede's static and simplifying models are challenged through German proverbs, undermining value coexistence as they relate oral communication to culture. Holistic duality, implying learning over time as triggering of underlying values, is discussed in the case study on the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) as part of the Interregional Trade Union Council Elbe-Neiße and Viadrina. Cross-cultural value differences in terms of right-wing extremism vs. nationalism between the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), the Polish Trade Union (NSZZ Solidarnosc) and the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOS) were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]