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).

• 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