The Role of the Masses in the Collapse of the GDR

This book examines the role of the masses in the collapse of the East German regime and state in 1989 in the northern district of Schwerin. It shows the extent to which citizens of the GDR dictatorship were instrumental in their state's demise. The 'bottom-up' approach employed, in contrast to the study of power wielding elites and 'opposition', explores the shift in mood and behaviour of citizens which brought about the internal collapse of the state.

Autorentext

JONATHAN GRIX is a Lecturer at the Institute for German Studies, Birmingham. His recent publications include, East Germany: Continuity and Change, with Paul Cooke (1999), and the following articles, Civil Society in East Germany pre and post-1989 (1999), The German Democratic Republic, with Julie Smith (1999), and Competing Approaches to the Collapse of the GDR: 'Top-Down' vs 'Bottom -Up' (1998).

Inhalt
List of Diagrams, Tables and Charts List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction PART I Approaches to GDR's Collapse Exit and Voice in Historical Context PART II Schwerin Case Study Exit in Schwerin The Wende in Schwerin Conclusion Notes Appendices Chronology of Events Map of Schwerin Bezirk Bibliography and Sources Index