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Article: The gradually disappearing republic. (East Germany) (editorial)
- Article from:
- The Economist (US)
- Article date:
- September 16, 1989
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1989 Economist Newspaper Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Gradually Disappearing Republic
WHEN thinking about East Germany, start with a deep breath. Counting all the East Germans who escaped through Hungary this week, the total number likely to enter West Germany this year, legally or border-busting, is proportionately smaller than the number of people who abandoned the Republic of Ireland last year. Nobody assumes the collapse of Ireland. This week's excited journalism about the imminent collapse of East Germany needs a dash of cold water.
No possible successor to old, sick Mr Erich Honecker seems to have any intention of making radical changes in the way East Germany is run. On the available evidence, ...