Tyler Cowen interviews historian Katja Hoyer on Weimar Republic and East Germany
7 reported
In a recent conversation, economist Tyler Cowen interviewed historian Katja Hoyer about topics including the Weimar Republic, East Germany, and German politics. The discussion covered why communism made East Germans more loyal to the system while breeding dissidents in Poland and Hungary, the happiness of life in the GDR, and the underrated literature of East Germany. Hoyer discussed the failure of the Weimar Constitution, citing factors such as proportional representation, Article 48 emergency powers, and the rushed creation of an ultra-liberal democracy without guardrails. She noted that the Weimar Republic was born into crisis after World War I and faced persistent economic troubles, including hyperinflation and unemployment. Hoyer also addressed the army’s ongoing interference in politics, describing how the Weimar Republic depended on a military that remained loyal to the old Prussian system. The conversation also touched on former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s East German background and the underrepresentation of East Germans in leadership positions today.
What’s reported
Tyler Cowen interviewed historian Katja Hoyer in a conversation available as audio, video, and transcript.
Topics included why communism made East Germans more loyal while breeding dissidents in Poland and Hungary, life in the GDR, and East German literature.
Hoyer discussed the failure of the Weimar Constitution, citing proportional representation, Article 48, and the rushed creation of an ultra-liberal democracy.
She stated the Weimar Republic was born into crisis after World War I and faced persistent economic troubles.
Hoyer noted the army’s interference in politics, saying the Weimar Republic depended on a military loyal to the old Prussian system.
The conversation covered Merkel’s East German background and the underrepresentation of East Germans in leadership positions.
Hoyer’s recent book is titled “Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe.”
Key figures
Tyler Cowen, economist and interviewer
Katja Hoyer, historian and author
Christa Wolf, East German writer (mentioned)
Brigitte Reimann, East German writer (mentioned)
Angela Merkel, former German chancellor (mentioned)
Sources: marginalrevolution.com
