Conflict and Compromise in East Germany, 1971–1989: A Precarious Stability PDF
Preview Conflict and Compromise in East Germany, 1971–1989: A Precarious Stability
Conflict and Compromise in East Germany, 1971–1989 This page intentionally left blank Conflict and Compromise in East Germany, 1971–1989 A Precarious Stability Jeannette Z. Madarász © Jeannette Z.Madarász 2003 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2003 978-1-4039-1568-9 All rights reserved.No reproduction,copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced,copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright,Designs and Patents Act 1988,or under the terms of any licence permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,90 Tottenham Court Road,London W1T 4LP. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. The author has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. First published 2003 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN Houndmills,Basingstoke,Hampshire RG21 6XS and 175 Fifth Avenue,New York,N.Y.10010 Companies and representatives throughout the world PALGRAVE MACMILLAN is the global academic imprint of the Palgrave Macmillan division of St.Martin’s Press,LLC and of Palgrave Macmillan Ltd. Macmillan® is a registered trademark in the United States,United Kingdom and other countries.Palgrave is a registered trademark in the European Union and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-51237-9 ISBN 978-1-4039-3836-7 (eBook) DOI 10.1057/9781403938367 This book is printed on paper suitable for recycling and made from fully managed and sustained forest sources. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Madarász,Jeannette Z.,1973– Conflict and compromise in East Germany,1971–1989/ Jeannette Z.Madarász. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978 -1–4039–1568–7 1.Germany (East)—Social conditions.2.Social groups—Germany (East). I.Title. HN460.5.A8M33 2003 306(cid:2).0943(cid:2)1—dc21 2003040520 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 To my parents, Albert and Bärbel Madarász This page intentionally left blank Contents Preface x Acknowledgements xi Glossary xii 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 1 The four groups 2 Historiography 5 Totalitarianism 5 Useful alternatives 8 Writers 10 Women 12 Youth 14 Christians 15 Sources and methods 17 Periodisation 21 Structure 24 Summary 25 2 Central Policy 27 Honecker after Ulbricht 27 Integration and social policy 30 ‘Wer die Jugend hat, der besitzt die Zukunft’ 32 Control and privilege 33 ‘Muttipolitik’ – the regime’s greatest success? 37 Changing stereotypes 40 Inspiration and loyalty 42 The threat of a ‘Kirchenkampf’ 46 Common issues 51 A dangerous link 52 Problems of policy 53 Loss of continuity 55 vii viii Contents 3 State Institutions 58 Success and failure 58 Shaping the young generation 60 Limitations of the FDJ 62 The role of Margot Honecker 66 Institutional shortcomings and emancipation 68 The DFD 73 Controlling the written word 76 The work of censorship institutions 83 Dealing with an outsider – the Churches 85 The CDU 87 An alternative institution 90 Summary 92 4 Diversity 93 Self-perception of the four groups 94 The female approach 97 Female writers as facilitators of change 100 The established writer 101 The alternative literary scene 103 Young rebels 105 Young people’s attitudes 108 Christian youth – a different experience 110 Christians and the state 111 Christian women 113 The isolation of Christian writers 115 Conclusion 117 5 Tensions 118 Social division: a consequence of privilege 119 Implications of forced conformity 121 The refusal to participate 122 A minority looking for alternatives 123 Generational conflict 125 Isolation tactics 128 The outsider position of Christians 130 Men versus women? 132 State control 137 Implications 139 Contents ix 6 Communication within GDR Society 142 Communication 143 Managing conflicts 145 The petition system 148 Petitions from Christians and Christian groups 152 The Ministry for State Security 153 Structure 154 Accumulation of data 157 Conclusion 161 7 Compromises and Participation 163 Exit and voice 163 ‘Einheit von Wirtschafts- und Sozialpolitik’ 167 ‘No taboos’ for the cultural elite 172 The Prenzlauer Berg concept 174 The lure of the establishment 177 The privilege of the outsider 178 Co-existence 182 Conclusion 184 8 Conclusion – Stability and the Image of Doom 186 The preconditions of stability and change: a summary 186 Collapse of the dictatorship 192 Notes 196 Appendix 231 Tables 1 and 2, ‘Support for the GDR’ (1969–89) 231 Tables 3 and 4, ‘Marxism–Leninism’ 232 Tables 5 and 6, ‘Socialism world wide’ 233 Bibliography and Sources 234 Index 268
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