The German Democratic Republic - (German History in Focus) by Ned Richardson-Little (Hardcover)

About the Book

A concise history of East Germany and its people, from early Cold War foundations to its dissolution and the reunification of Germany in 1990.

Book Synopsis

The German Democratic Republic has come to stand as a symbol of communist tyranny, a source of Cold War nostalgia and socialist kitsch, and a failed alternative to the worst excesses of 21st century capitalism.

In this book, Ned Richardson-Little delves into the central contradictions of the GDR state: This book illustrates the fault lines of GDR society, the worldviews and experiences of not only those who ruled the GDR, but also those who rebelled against the strictures of state socialism, and those in between who sought a normal life under dictatorship.

The German Democratic Republic is a succinct and comprehensive history of East Germany that traces its story from the country's origins as the Soviet Zone of Occupation after World War II through key events such as the 1953 Uprising, the building of the Berlin Wall, the Helsinki Accords, and the collapse of state socialism in 1989. Some of the themes explored include the memory of Nazism and national identity, everyday life under dictatorship, including consumerism, sexuality, and racism, the global politics of the GDR, the diversity of dissenting voices, and the competing visions for East Germany's democratic future.

Review Quotes

"Marshalling the latest research, this book sweeps effortlessly across the politics, culture, economy, society, and global embeddedness of the GDR. Combining an impressive breadth of vision with a sharp eye for nuance, Ned Richardson-Little brings to life the colours, frustrations and tragedies of life in the vanished East German state" --Marcus Colla, Associate Professor of Modern European Political History, University of Bergen, Norway

"This book provides a differentiated, accessible and highly informative critical history of the GDR. It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the paradoxes of the East German state, its entanglement in international politics and, crucially, its ongoing cultural and political relevance today" --Anna Saunders, Professor of German, University of Liverpool, UK

About the Author

Ned Richardson-Little is a Research Fellow in Department V: Globalizations in a Divided World at the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF), in Germany. He is a historian of modern Germany, with a focus on the GDR, socialism, far-right extremism, and the history of international law and international crime. He is the author of The Human Rights Dictatorship: Socialism, Global Solidarity and Revolution in East Germany (2020), and co-editor of Socialism and International Law (2024).