Alienating Labour: Workers on the Road from Socialism to Capitalism in East Germany and Hungary (International Studies in Social History, 22)

The Communist Party dictatorships in Hungary and East Germany sought to win over the “masses” with promises of providing for ever-increasing levels of consumption. This policy—successful at the outset—in the long-term proved to be detrimental for the regimes because it shifted working class political consciousness to the right while it effectively excluded leftist alternatives from the public sphere. This book argues that this policy can provide the key to understanding of the collapse of the regimes. It examines the case studies of two large factories, Carl Zeiss Jena (East Germany) and Rába in Győr (Hungary), and demonstrates how the study of the formation of the relationship between the workers’ state and the industrial working class can offer illuminating insights into the important issue of the legitimacy (and its eventual loss) of Communist regimes. The Communist Party Dictatorships In Hungary And East Germany Sought To Win Over The 'masses' With Promises Of Providing For Ever-increasing Levels Of Consumption. This Policy In The Long-term Proved To Be Detrimental For The Regimes Because It Shifted Working Class Political Consciousness To The Right While It Effectively Excluded Leftist Alternatives From The Public Sphere. This Book Argues That This Policy Can Provide The Key To Understanding Of The Collapse Of The Regimes. Introduction : Welfare Dictatorships, The Working Class And Socialist Ideology : A Theoretical And Methodological Outline -- 1968 And The Working Class : What Do We Get Out Of Socialism? The Reform Of Enterprise Management In East Germany And Hungary -- Workers In The Welfare Dictatorships -- Workers And The Party -- Contrasting The Memory Of The Kádár And Honecker Regimes -- Conclusion : Squaring The Circle? The End Of The Welfare Dictatorships In The Gdr And Hungary. Eszter Bartha. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The Communist Party dictatorships in Hungary and East Germany sought to win over the "masses" with promises of providing for ever-increasing levels of consumption. This policy-successful at the outset-in the long-term proved to be detrimental for the regimes because it shifted working class political consciousness to the right while it effectively excluded leftist alternatives from the public sphere. This book argues that this policy can provide the key to understanding of the collapse of the regimes. It examines the case studies of two large factories, Carl Zeiss Jena (East Germany) and Raba in Győr (Hungary), and demonstrates how the study of the formation of the relationship between the workers' state and the industrial working class can offer illuminating insights into the important issue of the legitimacy (and its eventual loss) of Communist regimes List of Figures List of Tables List of abbreviations Acknowledgements Introduction: Welfare dictatorships, the working class and socialist ideology: A theoretical and methodological outline Chapter 1. 1968 and the Working Class Chapter 2. Workers in the Welfare Dictatorships Chapter 3. Workers and the Party Chapter 4. Contrasting the Memory of the Kadar and Honecker Regimes Conclusion: Squaring the Circle? The End of the Welfare Dictatorships in the GDR and Hungary Appendix: Tables References Contents 5 Figures and Tables 7 Abbreviations 8 Acknowledgement 9 Introduction - Welfare Dictatorships, the Working Class and Socialist Ideology 11 Chapter 1 - 1968 and the Working Class 45 Chapter 2 - mWorkers in the Welfare Dictatorships 116 Chapter 3 - Workers and the Party 227 Chapter 4 - Contrasting the Memory of the Kádár and Honecker Regimes 285 Conclusion - Squaring the Circle? 306 References 329 Index 345 The Communist Party dictatorships in Hungary and East Germany sought to win over the "masses" with promises of providing for ever-increasing levels of consumption. This policy - successful at the outset - in the long-term proved to be detrimental for the regimes because it shifted working class political consciousness to the right...