The German Democratic Republic

Peter Grieder offers a thought-provoking introduction to the history of East Germany which engages critically with key debates and advances fresh interpretations. Arguing that the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was a totalitarian welfare state, Grieder: • divides its life into six phases: conception, construction, consolidation, conservatism, crisis, and collapse • analyses key concepts in the Introduction • provides an overall assessment of the GDR at the end of the volume • integrates experiences of individual GDR citizens in order to gain a deeper understanding of the East German polity. Clear, concise and up-to-date, this is an essential new study for anyone with an interest in the origins, development and ultimate downfall of the self-proclaimed 'Workers' and Peasants' Power'.