Escape from the GDR, 1961-1989: Hybrid exit repertoires in a disintegrating Leninist regime

Carol Mueller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Leading theorists contend that "exit" and its many manifestations do not fit the "contentious collective action" model. This article argues, however, that exit is frequently the only collective action available to average people in authoritarian regimes. In such regimes, collective exit may take a variety of forms, hybridized here from the elements of traditional and modern repertoires under varying conditions of opportunity and framing. Descriptions of hybrid exit episodes from the German Democratic Republic, 1961-89, are based on annual reports by Amnesty International, on secondary sources before 1989, and, primarily, on accounts from six international presses for 1989.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)697-735
Number of pages39
JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology
Volume105
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1999

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sociology and Political Science

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