On the Difficulties of Speaking about the GDR

In: Socialism and democracy: the bulletin of the Research Group on Socialism and Democracy, Band 9, S. 37-57

Abstract

Any attempts to discuss the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) are complicated by the epistemological & social antagonisms currently at work in the Federal Republic of Germany. It is argued that public discussions & perceptions of GDR history & society as dictatory, unjust, & totalitarian should be resisted. A specific methodology for discussing the GDR is developed. It is shown that many of the terminologies in current use to refer to the GDR do not accurately fit, but are part of the political culture at work to shape the GDR past. The symbolism & semantics of characterizing the former GDR are examined. It is concluded that scientific, objective truth only develops epistemologically through speaking, & the current discourse on the GDR distorts the reality. D. Karjanen