Political Epistemics: The Secret Police, the Opposition, and the End of East German Socialism

Andreas Glaeser

University of Chicago Press, Apr 15, 2011 - History - 606 pages

What does the durability of political institutions have to do with how actors form knowledge about them? Andreas Glaeser investigates this question in the context of a fascinating historical case: socialist East Germany’s unexpected self-dissolution in 1989. His analysis builds on extensive in-depth interviews with former secret police officers and the dissidents they tried to control as well as research into the documents both groups produced. In particular, Glaeser analyzes how these two opposing factions’ understanding of the socialist project came to change in response to countless everyday experiences. These investigations culminate in answers to two questions: why did the officers not defend socialism by force? And how was the formation of dissident understandings possible in a state that monopolized mass communication and group formation? He also explores why the Stasi, although always well informed about dissident activities, never developed a realistic understanding of the phenomenon of dissidence.

Out of this ambitious study, Glaeser extracts two distinct lines of thought. On the one hand he offers an epistemic account of socialism’s failure that differs markedly from existing explanations. On the other hand he develops a theory—a sociology of understanding—that shows us how knowledge can appear validated while it is at the same time completely misleading.

Contents

• Understandings Politics and Institutions: 1
• I Socialism as a SelfFulfilling ProphecyThe Partys Project: 61
• II Contingencies and Dynamics of UnderstandingThe Theory: 163
• III Becoming Socialist MenThe Stasi Officers: 251
• IV Disenchantment Disengagement OppositionThe Dissidents: 339
• V Policing UnderstandingsReproducing Misunderstandings: 463
• Paralyzing Uncertainties: 527
• References: 567
• Index: 593

About the author

Andreas Glaeser is professor of sociology at the University of Chicago. He is the book review editor for the American Journal of Sociology and the co-editor of the book series Chicago Studies in the Practices of Meaning.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Political Epistemics: The Secret Police, the Opposition, and the End of East German Socialism; Chicago Studies in Practices of Meaning; Chicago studies in practices of meaning - University of Chicago
• Author: Andreas Glaeser
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2011
• ISBN: 0226297942, 9780226297941
• Length: 606 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / Germany; Political Science / History & Theory; Political Science / Political Ideologies / Communism, Post-Communism & Socialism; Political Science / World / European; Social Science / General; Social Science / Sociology / General