Rethinking the GDR opposition: reform, resistance and revolution in the other Germany

This PhD thesis examines communist-oriented opposition within the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and how it has been represented in state-mandated memory since German unification in 1990. It uses three case studies: the first explores the narrative surrounding Paul Merker concerning antifascism and antisemitism; the second analyzes the "dissident" phenomenon through the lens of singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann; and the third investigates the "canonized opposition" of the 1980s, noting how their left-wing views are often omitted to portray them as proponents of liberal democracy and national unity. The research concludes that communist-oriented opposition provides a rich source for constructing narratives relevant to contemporary German national legitimation and identity. The thesis argues for greater consideration of the ideological influences on historical representations and their impact on current political discourse.