On the Path to a Theory of State Socialism

Pollack D

Zusammenfassung

This article investigates various characteristics of modernity & tries to establish a definition of modernity pertinent to an understanding of typical features of society in the GDR. Some especially relevant features of modern societies that will be applied in this analysis are self-referential institutions such as free market, the public sphere, competitive democracy, etc. Inherent to all of these institutions are the capability of self-monitoring, learning from mistakes, encouraging competition, & selecting the most beneficial option. These institutions foster the efficiency of modern societies. In contrast to this model of modern societies, the GDR, to a great extent, lacked these institutions & therefore suffered deficits in modernization. However, we can observe factors of modernization such as functional differentiation, institutional autonomy, competition, & emphasis on professional achievement to some degree. In consequence, conflicts arose between processes of modernization & politically induced barriers to modernization. The conclusion dismisses unilateral notions of the GDR as a premodern, undifferentiated, homogeneous society but also clearly points out the limitations of differentiation processes characteristic of modern societies.