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Proletarische Virtuosen? Widersprüche und Verwerfungen in der Elitenpolitik der SED am Beispiel der Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse
Proletarian virtuosos? Contradictions and faults in the elite policy of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (GDR), using the task forces of the working class as an example
[journal article]
Abstract "The members of the 'Combat Groups of the Working Class' were considered as proletarian virtuosos because they voluntarily spent their leisure time for their commitment to the protection of the 'Socialist achievements'. This way representing Communist resilience, they were supposed to be particularl... view more
"The members of the 'Combat Groups of the Working Class' were considered as proletarian virtuosos because they voluntarily spent their leisure time for their commitment to the protection of the 'Socialist achievements'. This way representing Communist resilience, they were supposed to be particularly honoured and recognized. Already in the 1950s, however, it became obvious that praising violence as a political maxim was widely perceived as contradicting other programmatic aspects of SED rule. Thus, an analysis of the Combat Groups looks promising for uncovering the inner contradictions of State Socialist rule - elite consciousness vs. egalitarianism, pacifism vs. militancy, spontaneity vs. 'ruling through' - and for understanding why it finally became a failure." (author's abstract)... view less
Keywords
Saxony-Anhalt; German Democratic Republic (GDR); Federal Republic of Germany; military policy; social actor; reunification; alcohol consumption; political actor; worker; elite formation; role model; working class; political elite; Socialist Unity Party of Germany (GDR); elite; political group; political domination; state socialism; function; recruitment; career
Classification
General History
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Method
qualitative empirical; quantitative empirical; historical
Document language
German
Publication Year
2013
Page/Pages
p. 83-107
Journal
Totalitarismus und Demokratie, 10 (2013) 1
Issue topic
Akteure der Diktatur: Regionale Fallstudien zur NS- und SED-Herrschaft
ISSN
1612-9008
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Deposit Licence - No Redistribution, No Modifications