Customer Reviews

Anatomy of a Dictatorship: Inside the GDR, 1949-1989

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Mary Fulbrook has done an excellent job in writing a concise analysis of the GDR in plain English. The book is very well researched and Professor Fulbrook has a clear and compassionate understanding of her subject. Her thesis that the GDR can be best classified as a dictatorship is convincing and well argued.

I am myself researching the role of the Protestant Church in the GDR, and was pleased to find a chapter in Fulbrook's book devoted to this subject. Western scholars have a record of embarassing themselves (out of ignorance) on topics such as this, but Fulbrook does an outstanding job.

Mary Fulbrook has done an excellent job in succinctly analysing the political system of the GDR, arguing that the former East Germany state is best classified as a "dictatorship". Her writing is easily understood by non-specialists and her compassion and attention to detail heightens the reader's interest in this fascinating subject. The book is excellently researched, with Professor Fulbrook combing the now open East German State and Party archives to present new material alongside her central thesis. Her insightful chapter on the role of the Church is especially welcome, since this subject has long been recognised by German scholars as of central importance, but is too often neglected or misunderstood by non-Germans academics. "Anatomy" is clearly the best book to recently appear on the "first socialist state on German soil".

Mary Fulbrook's review of the former East German state misses the point totally. It is too longwinded, bogged down in detail and fails to underline the major key principle, that the GDR was loved by over half of its population despite what the Western media would have us believe. Having spoken to former East German citizens, the book seems to be too concerned with the origins of the Soviet satellite state and doesn't address the issue that most East Germans were content with their state. In all, I found the book overpriced, badly researched and most disappointing.