Honecker's Children

Youth and Patriotism in East(Ern) Germany, 1979–2002

Inbunden, Engelska, 2007

AvAnna Saunders

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During the final decade of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), young citizens found themselves at the heart of a rigorous programme of socialist patriotic education, yet following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the emphasis of official state rhetoric, textbooks and youth activities changed beyond recognition. For the young generation growing up during this period, ‘normality’ was turned on its head, leaving a sense of insecurity and inner turmoil.Using a combination of archival research and interviews, together with educational materials and government reports, this book examines the relationship between young people and their two successive states in East(ern) Germany between 1979 and 2002. This unusual time-span straddles the 1989/1990 caesura which often delimits historical studies, and thus enables not only a detailed examination of GDR socialisation, but crucially also its influence in unified Germany. Anna Saunders explores the extent to which a young generation’s loyalties can be officially regulated in the face of cultural and historical traditions, changing material conditions and shifting social circumstances, and finds GDR socialisation to be influential to post-unification loyalties through its impact on the personal sphere, rather than through the official sphere of ideological propaganda. At a time of globalisation, this lucid study not only provides unique insight into the functioning of the GDR state and its longer-term impact, but also advances our broader understanding of the ways in which collective loyalties are formed. It will be of particular interest to those in the fields of German History and Politics, European Studies and Sociology.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2007-04-30
Mått138 x 216 x 16 mm
Vikt458 g
FormatInbunden
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor264
FörlagManchester University Press
ISBN9780719074110

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List of tables and graphsAcknowledgementsList of abbreviations and termsIntroduction: Honecker’s Germany: a world of the past? 1Eastern identity in the wake of the GDR 4Frameworks: defining the GDR in the 1980s 9Growing up under Honecker 14Researching young behaviours 201. The parameters of patriotism 31Nation and state 32Germany: problematic patriotisms 36The GDR’s patriotic programme 41Conclusion 572. Young people of the 1980s: a generation of loyal patriots? 66The foundations of identity: historical consciousness 67‘Peace must be armed!’: protecting the fatherland 76‘Educating hatred’: young people and the ‘imperialist’ West 88Proletarian internationalism: the politics of solidarity 101Rooted in the present? Pride in the achievements of the GDR 112Conclusion 1273. October 1989 - October 1990: The rise and fall of a GDR identity 151Reform and renewal: education and youth work during the Wende 155Hope of a reformed socialism: 9 October - 9 November 1989 160From socialism to scepticism: 9 November 1989 - 18 March 1990 164The GDR becomes history: 18 March - 3 October 1990 176Conclusion 1814. Civic loyalties in the wake of unification 189Societal change and education in the absence of the blue shirt 191The double burden of overcoming the past: historical consciousness in united Germany 195Military loyalties in the absence of the enemy 214International allegiances in a new world order 224United yet divided? Social, economic and political trends since the Wende 234Conclusion 2545. Conclusion: Death of the GDR: rebirth of an eastern identity? 278Tables 297Graphs 299Bibliography 297