For obvious reasons, the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) is widely seen as a unique and exceptional case of postcommunist transformation. As a result of its swift and complete incorporation into the Federal Republic of Germany, it is generally not included in comparative transformation studies. This article proposes a reinterpretation of the East German experience that stresses its character as an experiment in radical social engineering under almost ideal conditions—and as such is of considerable relevance for the general problem of controlled social change. After reviewing East Germany's first 5 years of transformation, the article argues that it is precisely some of its unique and exceptional characteristics that make East Germany into a paradigmatic case of “shock therapy” and holistic reform strategy. The conclusion suggests a number of general implications that can be derived from the East German case thus reinterpreted—concerning knowledge, irreversibility, technocratic power, and democracy.
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