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Through an examination of election campaign propaganda and various public relations campaigns, reflecting new electioneering techniques borrowed from the United States, this work explores how conservative political and economic groups sought to construct and sell a political meaning of the Social Market Economy and the Economic Miracle in West Germany during the 1950s.The political meaning of economics contributed to conservative electoral success, constructed a new belief in the free market economy within West German society, and provided legitimacy and political stability for the new Federal Republic of Germany.
“Spicka’s conclusions are insightful and plausible; his arguments are logical and stringent. His research foundation, comprising varied sources, is solid; he …supports his text with many instructive pictures… Also informative are the detailed and convincing explanations of how American campaigning techniques and public relations strategies were combined with older national German practices…Altogether, Spicka has produced a sound, informative study.” · Business History Review
“For anyone interested in West-German politics and campaign practices during the 1950s, this well-researched monograph will be required reading.” · German Studies Review
"Spicka has mad a valuable contribution to our understanding of West Germany’s first decade." · American Historical Review
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
Chapter 1. Origins of the Social Market Economy and the Currency Reform of 1948
Chapter 2. Market or Planned? The 1949 Bundestag Election
Chapter 3. The Korean Crisis, the Social Market Economy, and Public Opinion
Chapter 4. Public Relations for the Social Market Economy: Die Waage
Chapter 5. Creating a CDU/CSU Public Relations Machine: The 1953 Bundestag Election
Chapter 6. The Triumph of the Economic Miracle: The CDU/CSU and the 1957 Bundestag Election
Bibliography
Index