Reform in the German Democratic Republic (GDR): What Should the U.S. Do
Abstract
Socialist command economies have relied on centrally planned rigid economic systems which have performed poorly and need the introduction of market mechanisms. While the GDR command economy has been manipulated to achieve the highest standard of living among the Warsaw Pact (WP) countries, living conditions trail those in the industrialized free-market countries by a hugh margin. Economic stagnation frustrates large segments of the population. These conditions and historic socio-political events in the WP nations, initiated largely as a result of glasnost and perestrokia introduced by the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s, caused movement toward democratization and reform of economic systems in all East European countries during 1989. Continuation of these reforms seems inevitable. Economic conditions in the GDR and the difficult actions required to achieve economic improvements and stabilize its demonstrating and emigrating population are highlighted in this paper. Actions the U.S. should pursue to help preserve peace and inter-state stability in Europe, to provide assistance that will further successful reform in the GDR, and to enhance U.S. chances to be a meaningful player on the greater European scene in the future, are outlined in the final chapter of the paper. (eg)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222247
Entities
People
- Hasko K. Eckel
Organizations
- United States Army War College