Media and Transition in central and eastern Europe A comparison between the German Democratic Republic and Hungary Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor philosophiae (Dr. phil.) eingereicht an der Philosophischen Fakultät III der Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin von: MA; Sacha, Alain, Christophe de Wijs Geboren am 25.03.1978 in Zürich (Schweiz) Präsident der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin Prof. Dr. Christoph Markschies Dekan der Philosophischen Fakultät III Prof. Dr. Bernd Wegener Gutachter: 1. Prof. Dr. Silvia von Steinsdorff 2. Prof. Dr. Astrid Lorenz Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 13.10.2009 1 For my Father 2 Table of contents List of Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................5 I. Introduction ...................................................................................................................6 1. Problem outline ........................................................................................................6 2. Level of research......................................................................................................8 3. Hypotheses ............................................................................................................15 4. Methodical approach ..............................................................................................17 5. Dissertation setup...................................................................................................25 II. Analytical approach....................................................................................................26 1. The role of the elites during the democratization process .......................................28 2. The role of societal forces taking the lead during the democratization process.......33 3. Concept of analysis / research design: Content analysis and interviews ................34 3.1. Content analysis ..............................................................................................35 3.2. Content analysis design...................................................................................35 3.3. Interviews ........................................................................................................56 III. The impact of the Media on transition processes ......................................................58 1. Setting the scene: paths of State Socialism............................................................58 2. Setting the scene: the role of the Media in State Socialism ....................................60 3. The position of the Media in transition processes ...................................................64 4. The role of the Media in democratic systems..........................................................68 IV. The GDR ..................................................................................................................71 1. The Media in the GDR............................................................................................73 2. Towards transition ..................................................................................................78 3. The Media in transition ...........................................................................................92 4. From state financing to market environment: the consequences of the new economic working reality .............................................................................................100 5. Comparing the respective GDR newspapers of research .....................................102 5.1. Quantitative analysis......................................................................................103 5.1.1. Quantitative analysis findings......................................................................103 5.1.2. Quantitative analysis comparisons..............................................................105 5.2. Qualitative analysis ........................................................................................109 5.2.1. The “Neues Deutschland” before the resignation of Erich Honecker ...........109 5.2.2. The “Neue Zeit” before the resignation of Erich Honecker...........................112 5.2.3. The replacement of Erich Honecker............................................................113 5.2.4. The “Neues Deutschland” after the resignation Erich Honecker ..................114 5.2.5. The “Neue Zeit” after the resignation of Erich Honecker..............................125 6. The role of the Media during the transformation process ......................................137 5.1.1 Output..........................................................................................................137 5.1.2 “In between the lines”...................................................................................143 5.1.3 Outcome ......................................................................................................145 V. Hungary...................................................................................................................150 1. The Media in Hungary ..........................................................................................153 2. Towards transition ................................................................................................155 3. The Media in transition .........................................................................................167 4. The influence of media privatization .....................................................................174 5. Comparing the respective Hungarian newspapers of research.............................179 5.1.1 Quantitative analysis....................................................................................180 5.1.2 Quantitative analysis findings.......................................................................181 5.1.3 Quantitative analysis comparisons...............................................................183 5.2 “Qualitative analysis”.......................................................................................186 5.2.1 “Magyar Nemzet” .........................................................................................186 5.2.2 “Népszabadság” ..........................................................................................191 6. The role of the Media during the transformation process ......................................200 6.1.1 Output..........................................................................................................201 3 6.1.2 “In between the lines”...................................................................................204 6.1.3 Outcome ......................................................................................................205 VI. The GDR and Hungary: a comparison....................................................................210 1. “Output”................................................................................................................216 2. “Outcome” ............................................................................................................217 VII. Conclusions and further comments .......................................................................227 Bibliography....................................................................................................................232 Newspapers ...................................................................................................................238 Documents .....................................................................................................................238 Interviews .......................................................................................................................239 Further reading ...............................................................................................................239 Appendix ........................................................................................................................242 4 List of Abbreviations ADN General German News Service (GDR) AVH Hungarian Secret Police: "State Protection Authority" CDU Christian Democratic Union (GDR) CPSU CC Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union DBD German Peasants' Party (GDR) EKA Round table of the opposition (Hungary) FIDESZ Alliance of Young Democrats (Hungary) FKGP Conservative Smallholders Party (Hungary) FRG Federal Republic of Germany GDR German Democratic Republic IMF International Monetary Fund KDNP Christian Democratic People's Party (Hungary) KGB Soviet Intelligence Service: "Committee for State Security" KPD German Communist Party LDPD Liberal Democratic Party (GDR) MDF Hungarian Democratic Forum MDP Hungarian (Communist) Worker's Party MIT Hungarian News Agency MSZMP Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party MSZP Hungarian Socialist Party (Successor of the above in 1989) NDPD National Democratic Party of Germany (GDR) NEM New Economic Mechanism (Hungary) NSDAP National Socialist German Workers' Party SED Socialist Unity Party SPD Social Democrats (Germany) SZDSZ Alliance of Free Democrats (Hungary) 5 I. Introduction 1. Problem outline It is today over seventeen years since the demise of communist power in Central and Eastern Europe. Since then, much work has been done analysing the process of democratic consolidation in the region, taking into account a wide variety of political, economical, social and institutional aspects of the transformation process. What appears remarkable, however,