Political Systems and Détente: A History of East and West Germany

Book Essay on: A McAdams, Germany Divided: From the Wall to Reunification
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993), 266 pages. UCSB: DD571 .M26 1993

by Connor Culhane
December 4, 2008

for Prof. Marcuse's lecture course
Germany, 1945-present
UC Santa Barbara, Fall 2008

About Connor Culhane

3. I am a third year history major with an interest in modern Middle Eastern history. I have traveled in some parts of Eastern/Central Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Germany. I chose to write about McAdam’s book because I find the transition out of communism and into more liberal democracy that many European countries underwent very interesting, especially after visiting them.

Abstract (back to top)

McAdam’s book Germany Divided: From the Wall to Reunification asks why did many Germans give up all serious hope of reunification and why did the East-West relationship appear stable in the 1980’s. It is McAdams’ argument that the different political structures of East and West Germany, liberal democracy on hand and state socialism on the other, and their interaction were responsible for producing an environment of apparent stability between the two countries. In this essay I will argue that McAdams provides an thorough effective history of political and elite interaction between East and West Germany. He relies on a variety of sources, including scholarly articles and books, works of journalism, and personal interviews, including top officials in both countries. Were McAdams falls short is in his attempt to fully explain the fall of the Berlin Wall, but despite this, his work still provides a useful framework for understanding the forces of change at work in 1989.

Essay (back to top)

Bibliography and Links (back to top)(links last checked 12/x/08)

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Plagiarism—presenting someone else's work as your own, or deliberately failing to credit or attribute the work of others on whom you draw (including materials found on the web)—is a serious academic offense, punishable by dismissal from the university. It hurts the one who commits it most of all, by cheating them out of an education. I report offenses to the Office of the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

• For more information, see:
  • Screenshot of Integrity Pledge on GOLD that all UCSB students must acknowledge.
  • UCSB Judicial Affairs has an FAQ for Parents and Students; pdf brochure for students
  • UCSB Office of Instructional Consultation: Promoting Academic Integrity
  • UCSB page on academic dishonesty (html version of brochure; see also updated pdf))
  • Princeton plagiarism page with 3 commented examples.