Freedom of Speech

42 years of Socialism: Given the widespread popular discontent and shortage of basic daily goods, Socialism had a long life in East Germany. How do we make sense of this longevity? Andrew Port, PhD, professor of history at Wayne State University, talks about why there were no notable mass protests in the GDR between 1953 and 1989. 

The restriction of freedom of speech is taken for granted in the case of East Germany, but what about West Germany?

Were East Germans ever worried that their Western News were actually fake news? If so, were there any major instances where the government interfered with the Western broadcasts?

Does freedom of expression strengthen or weaken a social system?

Where were the citizens able to protest/express their opinion/air their grievances more freely? In East or West Germany?

....can a democracy handle? Is it possible to have too many parties? When do too many parties lead to dysfunctional politics? 

The history of the 1953 crushed worker's uprising by the Soviet troops is well known, but did the GDR have other oppositional movements? 

Public expressions of dissent in the GDR were limited to spaces (under close surveillance) as the church and certain party gatherings, but individuals carved out room for freedom in the arts and other (semi)private spaces. 

We asked, Ingrid Miethe, PhD answered: You were personally active in the peace movement in the GDR and subsequently researched and compared feminist movements in the East and West. How would you summarize the most important differences?
See answer.