Since the collapse of state socialism in East Germany in 1989, political discourse among citizens has changed dramatically. There is now talk of democracy, tolerance, the individual, and democratic socialism. This paper examines the impact of this new discourse upon citizenship education in what was formerly East Germany specifically focusing on changes made in civics textbooks. Old textbooks were filled with attempts to instill rigid stereotypes in children's minds, for example, "Lessons should contribute to intensifying a disgust for and hatred of imperialism among pupils." A new civics is slowly emerging, and some crucial questions need to be addressed: does the change in ideology and language also correspond to a change in consciousness and attitude or is the change in language just a means of covering up the old mentality and perhaps even the old ideology? German reunification raises some important issues including whether former citizens and experts of East Germany will be allowed to develop their own textbooks. (DB)