{"product_id":"the-currency-of-socialism-money-and-political-culture-in-east-germany-paperback-9780521743600","title":"The Currency of Socialism; Money and Political Culture in East Germany (Paperback) 9780521743600","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Currency of Socialism\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eMoney and Political Culture in East Germany\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis book explores the East German attempt to create a perfect society by eliminating money and explains the reasons for its failure.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eJonathan R. Zatlin (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521743600, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback, published 6 October 2008\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e398 pages\u003cbr\u003e23.1 x 15.5 x 2.5 cm, 0.56 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"His analysis is multifaceted and elegantly presented.\" -Peter Monteath, American Historical Review\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eThere is perhaps nothing so commonplace and yet so mystifying as money. But to European communists, money was clearly an instrument of economic exploitation and spiritual alienation. In this groundbreaking study, Jonathan R. Zatlin explores the East German attempt to create a perfect society by eliminating money and explains the reasons for its failure. Drawing on a wide range of sources, including unpublished communist reports, secret police files, literature, jokes, letters written by ordinary people, and conversations with key German politicians, this book shows how the communist regime undermined the political authority of socialism and created the material conditions for its demise. By exploring both the economic and the cultural function of money, Zatlin challenges traditional approaches to economic planning by offering a novel explanation for the collapse of communism in East Germany and a highly original interpretation of German unification. Written in an engaging and lucid style, The Currency of Socialism brings to life the scurrilous competition for power among communist officials and the everyday burdens experienced by ordinary East Germans.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePart I. Production: 1. Making and unmaking money: monetary theory and economic planning in East Germany\u003cbr\u003e 2. Accounting and accountability: financing the planned economy under Honecker, 1971–80\u003cbr\u003e 3. Parsimony and the prince: crisis and stability, 1980–5\u003cbr\u003e 4. The currency of decline: the disintegration of the East German economy\u003cbr\u003e Part II. Consumption: 5. The vehicle of desire: the Trabant, the Wartburg, and the discipline of demand\u003cbr\u003e 6. Consuming ideology: the intershops, Genex, and retail trade under Honecker\u003cbr\u003e 7. Appealing to authority: the citizens' petition and the rhetoric of decline.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: Economic history [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Economic history\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Economic%20history%20%5BKCZ%5D%22\"\u003eKCZ\u003c\/a\u003e], Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000 [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on Postwar 20th century history, from c 1945 to c 2000\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22Postwar%2020th%20century%20history,%20from%20c%201945%20to%20c%202000%20%5BHBLW3%5D%22\"\u003eHBLW3\u003c\/a\u003e], European history [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on European history\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22European%20history%20%5BHBJD%5D%22\"\u003eHBJD\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45912985600280,"sku":"9780521743600","price":35.39,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521743600i_9775d0ff-0213-4cc3-9e0f-73c4e7bdbc38.jpg?v=1691380689","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-currency-of-socialism-money-and-political-culture-in-east-germany-paperback-9780521743600","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}