In this paper I will analyze political careers in a comprehensive way. Selecting the units of analysis based on a single phase of political careers (being a cabinet member in one of the German Länder 1970-2010) my research question focuses on the post-cabinet career: I will analyze in how far being a member of a government at the level of the German Länder helps to make a further career in the German and/or European political arena. From a more particular perspective I will test which socio-demographic as well as political-institutional characteristics determine whether a politician is able to use a cabinet position at the Länder level as a stepping stone and for which politicians this position is the highest one they ever achieve – and thus it is a dead end for their careers.
