East Germany Re-Examined: Why Its Legacy of Socialism & Anti-Imperialism Still Matters

Listen to the full interview on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/full-audio-east-87132481

East Germany, or the German Democratic Republic (GDR), is remembered in the West as the antithesis to freedom and democracy. But the history and reality of the GDR was far more complex. Not only was the GDR a socialist state built on antifascist principles following the Second World War. It also practiced solidarity with other socialist states, countries and liberation movements fighting for independence from colonialism across the Global South. 

To discuss this and more Rania Khalek was joined by Max Rodermund and Matthew Read, researchers at the International Research Centre DDR, which together with the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research published a special issue on the legacy and historical experiences of socialist construction under the conditions of constant imperialist aggression in the GDR.

This is just the first half of this episode. The second half is available for Breakthrough News Members only. Become a member at https://www.Patreon.com/BreakthroughNews to access the full episode and other exclusive content.

Read the Tricontinental report here: https://thetricontinental.org/studies-1-ddr/ 

Follow the International Research Centre DDR here: https://ifddr.org/en/home/