The Federal Republic of Germany's Western orientation in politics, state, and society has been a central element of its self-image from the outset. A self-evident and unambiguous allegiance to the community of Western values remains part of the Federal Republic's raison d'êetre. Although the developments and decisions that led to this Western orientation on the economic, political, and military level have been extensively discussed, the westernization of Germany's political culture has not been sufficiently explained, despite its importance for understanding the evolution of West German democracy.

The westernization of Germany could simply be equated with the adoption of Western democratic principles for the creation of a new German republic. But more than pure constitutional history is at issue. There is a difference between form and content, between simply founding a democratic state by adopting a constitution based on the principles of liberty and a society embracing democracy as a way of life. The mere existence of a democratic form of government reveals little about whether democracy will be accepted and ultimately lived by its citizens. This article understands westernization not as a change in constitutional principles but as the transition of West Germany's political culture from authoritarianism to liberal democracy.