Terms from the field of GDR research

According to Directive 1/76, measures of decomposition of personalities (Stasi term "Zersetzung") directed against individual persons were, for example, the "systematic discrediting of public reputation, reputation and prestige on the basis of interconnected true, verifiable discrediting as well as untrue, credible, irrefutable and thus also discrediting information" or the "systematic organization of professional and social failures to undermine self-confidence".

Forms:

• systematic discrediting of the public reputation
• systematic organization of professional and social failures
• purposeful undermining of beliefs related to certain ideals etc. and creating doubts about personal perspective
• generation of distrust and mutual suspicion within groups
• creating, exploiting and reinforcing rivalries within groups
• groups dealing with their internal problems
• local and temporal disruption of the mutual relationships of the members of a group

Means and methods:

• Use of IM (unofficial collaborators)
• anonymous letters, telegrams, phone calls
• compromising photos
• rumours
• indiscretions or feigning a deconspiration of MfS defensive measures
• subpoenas

Each remedy should be "used creatively and differentiated, expanded and further developed".

Source: https://www.stasi-unterlagen-archiv.de/mfs-lexikon/detail/zersetzung/

Doping is the presence of a prohibited substance, its metabolite, or a marker in any part of an athlete's body.

Doping in the sense of "use": The utilization, application, ingestion, injection or consumption by any means whatsoever of any Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method. (World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA)

After the end of the Second World War (1945), Germany was divided into four occupation zones. In 1949, the GDR (following the Soviet model) was proclaimed as a socialist state for the territory of the Soviet occupation zone (SBZ). The Socialist Unity Party (SED) held political power. Party and state were run according to the principle of democratic centralism, which means that parliament was only of secondary importance compared to the leading role of the SED.

The GDR was part of the so-called Eastern Bloc countries. The political and economic (also social and cultural) role model was the Soviet Union (USSR). The socialist social order largely politicized and controlled all areas of society and left little room for individual and private creativity.

Economically, within the framework of the socialist planned economy, so-called five-year plans determined the actions of the largely nationalized companies. As a reaction to the increasing so-called »Republic flight« the border to the Federal Republic of Germany was closed in 1961 and the Berlin Wall was erected. As a result of the Ostpolitik (of the social-liberal federal government), the basic treaty on "normal, good neighborly relations with one another on the basis of equality" was concluded in 1972. At the same time, however, the GDR expanded its border security systems, tightened political control over the population and took an increasingly authoritarian stance against so-called dissidents.

The reform course of the Soviet President M. Gorbachev increased the pressure on the political leadership of the GDR at the end of the 1980s. Since September 25, 1989, mass demonstrations have been held continuously against the state leadership, which is increasingly losing political control. On November 8, 1989, the Politburo of the SED resigned as a whole. A day later the Berlin Wall was opened. The attempt by civil rights activists to open up the GDR and still develop an alternative to socialism and capitalism failed due to a lack of popular support. On October 3, 1990, the GDR acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany according to Article 23 of the Basic Law.

Source: Federal Agency for Civic Education (https://www.bpb.de/kurz-knapp/lexika/politiklexikon/17333/deutsche-demokratische-republik-ddr/)

..."Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands" (Socialist Unity Party of Germany). It was the dominant political party in the former GDR and largely responsible for the actions of its members. You can find more information about this hier.

The word stigma, translated from Latin as “burn” or “mark”, refers to a specific characteristic that distinguishes a person from others. Stigmatization is understood as the associated process in which the person is given a label by other people and associated with negative stereotypes because of this characteristic (here, for example, through the injustice they suffered in the GDR). This can lead to a person affected by stigmatization being subjected to prejudice, exclusion and ultimately discrimination. Stigmatizing attitudes can therefore lead to a devaluation of those affected (public stigmatization). A person who has experienced such stigma in contact with other people may fear that the experience will be repeated. This can lead to secrecy, refusal or avoidance of offers of help, or social withdrawal. The effects of stigmatization are manifold and individually different for those affected. Structures, norms and rules can also lead to stigmatization on a societal and institutional level (structural stigmatization) and restrict the well-being of those affected, e.g. through disadvantages in legislation, resource allocation or health care. Self-stigmatization occurs when a person accepts and adopts other people's opinions or prejudices about themselves.