Esther von Richthofen grew up in Bonn, London and Brussels. For her undergraduate degree, she read Modern History at Oxford University. She did her M.A. and PhD at UCL and specialized in the history of the German Democratic Republic. She is currently employed as the personal assistant of the president of the Humboldt University in Berlin.

• List of tablesAbbreviationsAcknowledgementsChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Nonconformity, Coercion and Alienation: the 1950sPART I: BENDING THE RULES WHILE UPHOLDING THE STRUCTURES: CULTURAL FUNCTIONARIESChapter 3. Neither Puppets nor OpponentsChapter 4. Organising Culture: Compromise and CommunicationPART II: ATTEMPTED SELF-DETERMINATION - PURSUING AN INTEREST: THE PARTICIPANTSChapter 5. Patterns of ParticipationChapter 6. Communication with Cultural FunctionariesPART III: FROM UTOPIANISM TO PRAGMATISM: CULTURAL POLICYChapter 7. Responding to Developments at the GrassrootsChapter 8. From Art to CultureChapter 9. Breakdown of Communication: the late 1970s and 1980sChapter 10. ConclusionBibliographyIndex

". this book's investigation of how culture worked at the local level adds to our understanding of the diversity within the East German system. In particular, its more nuanced view of cultural functionaries-the many types that existed and their personal motivations-offers a valuable contribution to current scholarship."  ·  German History“Richthofen’s work conveys with empathy the complex choices that characterised life in the GDR. [This] astutely argued, thought-provoking study is a worthy addition to the increasingly impressive body of research on the social and cultural life of ordinary East Germans.”  ·  English Historical Review“In providing a multi-actor model for analyzing one area of policy and practice in the GDR, this book is a valuable contribution not only to the literature on that state but also to the methodological considerations of institutional and social history and organizational studies…Its accessibility in terms of excellent writing and clear argumentation also make[s] it an excellent text for both undergraduate and graduate classes in history and political science classes about models of communication and policy making.”  ·  Central European History

Esther von Richthofen grew up in Bonn, London and Brussels. For her undergraduate degree, she read Modern History at Oxford University. She did her M.A. and PhD at UCL and specialized in the history of the German Democratic Republic. She is currently employed as the personal assistant of the president of the Humboldt University in Berlin.

• List of tablesAbbreviationsAcknowledgementsChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Nonconformity, Coercion and Alienation: the 1950sPART I: BENDING THE RULES WHILE UPHOLDING THE STRUCTURES: CULTURAL FUNCTIONARIESChapter 3. Neither Puppets nor OpponentsChapter 4. Organising Culture: Compromise and CommunicationPART II: ATTEMPTED SELF-DETERMINATION - PURSUING AN INTEREST: THE PARTICIPANTSChapter 5. Patterns of ParticipationChapter 6. Communication with Cultural FunctionariesPART III: FROM UTOPIANISM TO PRAGMATISM: CULTURAL POLICYChapter 7. Responding to Developments at the GrassrootsChapter 8. From Art to CultureChapter 9. Breakdown of Communication: the late 1970s and 1980sChapter 10. ConclusionBibliographyIndex

". this book's investigation of how culture worked at the local level adds to our understanding of the diversity within the East German system. In particular, its more nuanced view of cultural functionaries-the many types that existed and their personal motivations-offers a valuable contribution to current scholarship."  ·  German History“Richthofen’s work conveys with empathy the complex choices that characterised life in the GDR. [This] astutely argued, thought-provoking study is a worthy addition to the increasingly impressive body of research on the social and cultural life of ordinary East Germans.”  ·  English Historical Review“In providing a multi-actor model for analyzing one area of policy and practice in the GDR, this book is a valuable contribution not only to the literature on that state but also to the methodological considerations of institutional and social history and organizational studies…Its accessibility in terms of excellent writing and clear argumentation also make[s] it an excellent text for both undergraduate and graduate classes in history and political science classes about models of communication and policy making.”  ·  Central European History

Esther von Richthofen grew up in Bonn, London and Brussels. For her undergraduate degree, she read Modern History at Oxford University. She did her M.A. and PhD at UCL and specialized in the history of the German Democratic Republic. She is currently employed as the personal assistant of the president of the Humboldt University in Berlin.

• List of tablesAbbreviationsAcknowledgementsChapter 1. IntroductionChapter 2. Nonconformity, Coercion and Alienation: the 1950sPART I: BENDING THE RULES WHILE UPHOLDING THE STRUCTURES: CULTURAL FUNCTIONARIESChapter 3. Neither Puppets nor OpponentsChapter 4. Organising Culture: Compromise and CommunicationPART II: ATTEMPTED SELF-DETERMINATION - PURSUING AN INTEREST: THE PARTICIPANTSChapter 5. Patterns of ParticipationChapter 6. Communication with Cultural FunctionariesPART III: FROM UTOPIANISM TO PRAGMATISM: CULTURAL POLICYChapter 7. Responding to Developments at the GrassrootsChapter 8. From Art to CultureChapter 9. Breakdown of Communication: the late 1970s and 1980sChapter 10. ConclusionBibliographyIndex

". this book's investigation of how culture worked at the local level adds to our understanding of the diversity within the East German system. In particular, its more nuanced view of cultural functionaries-the many types that existed and their personal motivations-offers a valuable contribution to current scholarship."  ·  German History“Richthofen’s work conveys with empathy the complex choices that characterised life in the GDR. [This] astutely argued, thought-provoking study is a worthy addition to the increasingly impressive body of research on the social and cultural life of ordinary East Germans.”  ·  English Historical Review“In providing a multi-actor model for analyzing one area of policy and practice in the GDR, this book is a valuable contribution not only to the literature on that state but also to the methodological considerations of institutional and social history and organizational studies…Its accessibility in terms of excellent writing and clear argumentation also make[s] it an excellent text for both undergraduate and graduate classes in history and political science classes about models of communication and policy making.”  ·  Central European History