Training Socialist Citizens: Sports and the State in East Germany (Studies in Central European Histories, 44)

Offering a counterbalance to previous scholarship on elite Olympics sports and doping scandals, this study analyzes how the East German government used participatory sports programs, sports festivals, and sports spectatorship to transform its population into new socialist citizens. It illuminates the power of the East German dictatorship over its population, the ways that citizens participated in, accommodated to, and resisted state goals, and the government's ultimate failure to create eager socialist citizens. It also highlights the orchestration of participation in modern dictatorships, the role of mass participatory sports as both a valuable political tool and a popular leisure activity, and elements of continuity and change in twentieth-century German history. Offering A Counterbalance To Previous Scholarship On Elite Olympic Sports And Doping Scandals, This Study Analyzes How The East German Government Used Participatory Sports Programs, Sports Festivals, And Sports Spectatorship To Transform Its Population Into New Socialist Citizens. It Illuminates The Power Of The East German Dictatorship Over Its Population, The Ways That Citizens Participated In, Accommodated To, And Resisted State Goals, And The Government's Ultimate Failure To Create Socialist Citizens. It Also Highlights The Orchestration Of Participation In Modern Dictatorships, The Role Of Mass Participatory Sports As Both A Valuable Political Tool And A Popular Leisure Activity, And Elements Of Continuity And Change In Twentieth-century German History.--book Jacket. Between German Tradition And Soviet Hegemony: The Postwar Reconstruction Of Sports -- Training New Socialist Citizens Through Sports -- Voluntary Campaigns And Socialist Society -- The Embodiment Of East German Socialism: The Gymnastics And Sports Festivals -- Socialist Spectatorship: The Friedensfahrt And Champion Tave Schur. By Molly Wilkinson Johnson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [211]-225) And Index. Drawing on archival, published, and oral history sources, this book analyzes the successes and limitations encountered by the East German state as it used participatory sports programs, sports festivals, and sports spectatorship to transform its population into new socialist citizens.