The Making of the German Post-War Economy Political Communication and Public Reception of the Social Market Economy after World War Two

by Glossner, Christian L.

• ISBN13: 9781848852648
• ISBN10: 1848852649
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-03-15
• Publisher: Tauris Academic Studies

Summary

The economic regeneration and post-war reconstruction of West Germany is one of the most remarkable success stories of the 20th century. However, little is known about the processes and debates that fuelled this era of extraordinary change and upheaval. Christian Glossner here explores the events and individuals of this period, tracing the development of economic and socio-political ideas and their gradual absorption by mainstream politicians, officials and the general public during the period of transition between 1945 and 1949. In the process, he reveals the dynamic interplay between political parties and the electorate during the process of economic liberalisation that was to result in the Social Market Economy prevailing as the socio-political and economic model for the new Federal Republic of Germany.

Author Biography

Christian L. Glossner is Teaching Fellow and Assistant Lecturer in Political Economy and European History at University of Oxford. He received his D.Phil. on economic theory and political history from the University of Oxford in 2008 and is a graduate from the Université de Fribourg as well as the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Table of Contents

List of Tables	p. ix
List of Abbreviations	p. xi
Chronology	p. xvii
Acknowledgements	p. xxiii
Preface	p. xxv
Introduction	p. 1
Conception and Communication	p. 8
Academic Concepts between Neo-Liberalism and Neo-Socialism	p. 29
The Freiburg Circles and Neo-Liberalism	p. 31
The Freiburg School and Ordo-Liberalism	p. 39
The Cologne School and Social Market Economics	p. 47
Political Considerations between Programmatic Intention and Pragmatic Imperative	p. 61
The Social Democratic Party and Liberal Socialism	p. 63
The Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union and Social Liberalism	p. 80
Politics and Public Opinion	p. 108
1945/1946-Stupor and Search for Direction	p. 116
1947-Disillusion and Disappointment	p. 121
1948-Aspiration and Apprehension	p. 127
1949-Contentment and Confidence	p. 138
Conclusion	p. 148
Appendices	p. 152
Notes	p. 181
Bibliography	p. 241
Index	p. 285
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