
This book was written in English by Ulrich van der Heyden, and published by Lit Publishing House in 2013. It consists of 17 parts including an 11 pages conclusion. The title refers to the issue of the policy of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) policy between 1960 and 1990 with Third World countries (the GDR had diplomatic relations with more than one hundred developing countries). The author (born in 1954), a well-known scholar, is a German historian at the Freie University and the Humboldt University in Berlin. He’s the author of numerous books: Kolonialmetropole Berlin. Eine Spurensuche (2002), Rote Adler an Afrikas Küste. Die brandenburgisch-preußische Kolonie Großfriedrichsburg in Westafrika (2001), Das Schrifttum der deutschen Missionsgesellschaften als Quelle für die Geschichtsschreibung Südafrikas (1996). In 2013/2014 he was a visiting researcher at the Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies at the University of South Africa (Unisa). The author is a careful observer of the GDR well prepared strategy upon cooperation with Third World countries. The author especially explores the development of GDR relations with African countries (but also with other Third World countries). The author shows how the GDR tried to discredit the Western part of Germany in its policy toward Third World countries. The book is based on an extensive use of official East German texts and statistics. It will be of interest to specialists and students of German historical and East European studies.
The book is comprised of 17 chapters where author explore different aspects of the cooperation between the GDR and Third World countries by presenting the policy of the Socialist Unity Party of GDR which concentrated its forces in political-ideological instructions (by being at least a topical component of a study trip of Third World scholars or interns in the GDR).
The first and the second part of the book are an introduction to the topic. The first one is an introduction to the book. The second part is a summary of the sources which were used by the Author. The Author is also emphasizing on the fact that the GDR kept secret any statistical data which could be used against the country. Therefore it had an impact on the writings of the Author through limited available resources. Many examples provided by the Author are focused on the main countries (Algeria, Angola, Cambodia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Laos, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Syria, Vietnam, Yemen) with which the GDR had important relations.
The introduction to the third chapter is a very good overview of the GDR International Policy in various dimensions. The author presents the general objectives of the GDR development policy which was focused through an anti-imperialist scheme.
The fourth chapter entitled “The Peace Corps of the East – The Friendship Brigades” is dedicated to GDR youth organizations which were dispatched to the Third World. They were tasked in assisting local institutions in the development of some concrete projects (such as repair workshops, linguistic trainings…). In 1963, the GDR created the The Friendship Brigades in response to John Fitzgerald Kennedy Peace Corps founded in 1961. These Friendships Brigades has a double role. They were supposed to support the considered countries in the aftermath of the colonialism. On the other side, these Brigades were also supposed to improve the image of the unknown GDR.
The fifth chapter concerns Third World workers who were employed in GDR and reactions toward their settlements in the GDR. The book contains some original and provocative findings. One example of that is that twenty percent of the Mozambican workers with the best performance were allowed to stay for a further one to five years in the GDR.
The sixth part of the book scrutinizes the effects of the military and security co-operation between the GDR and the Third World. A special emphasize is lead on the MPLA and FRELIMO, two liberation movements respectively in Angola and Mozambique. However the author also argued that the ANC and the SWAPO were the biggest recipients of the solidarity services. The chapter provided also valuable information regarding the trainings of the leaders of these formations in the GDR.
Regarding the seventh, eight, ninth, tenth and eleventh parts, these are totally related to development projects involving the GDR and Third World countries. They explain the ideological foundations of GDR development policy and provide concrete political cases of cooperation in various fields such as Trade and Industry, healthcare and education. In the eight part of the book, the author defends the thesis that since the 1960s, the GDR was totally involved in South African freedom movements (regarding South Africa, Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe). The author provided also crucial statistical data regarding African students from these regions who were studying in the GDR during the 1980s. The author argued that these young students were supposed to be the next leaders of these countries.
The last five parts are the conclusion, an appendix, an abstract and a list of abbreviations and Tables plus a bibliography mentioning the used sources. The book is based on an extensive research including the examination of a large number of books, research papers, publications focused on the military co-operation of the GDR with Third World countries, case studies. The author underlines that according to him, there are no publications by historians of other countries related to the GDR’Ss African policy.
The author’s research perspective is interesting for the central role of the concept of the GDR role in Africa. The author seems to express some kind of “nostalgia” over the GDR policy in Africa especially when he analyzed the role of the GDR in solidarity services to South African liberation movements. The author also believes that the GDR involvement in these operations determined the image of the Germans in South Africa. The author quotes the South African diplomat Jeremiah Mamabolo who believes that there was no doubt that the GDR was in the forefront of support for the liberation movements.
Even for an experienced reader, the book is a pool of astute statistical documents and observations and comments referring to the research on the foreign policy of the GDR in the Third World. On the other side the author raises some questions that he can answer. It’s of course impossible to mention all elements related to the co-operation between the GDR and Third World countries, however at my humble opinion there is a lack of detailed history regarding relations between both Parties. A chronology of key events would be highly appreciated by beginner’s students in these fields. On the other side the author is able to provide clear syntheses of diverse sources on the relations between the GDR and Third World countries without oversimplifying the history. As a reviewer I would expect also some sources which would be originated from the considered Third World countries (especially countries on which the GDR focused the more. Nevertheless an additional advantage of the publication is its congressional language (including sources), which widens the circle of potential readers. Therefore the book constitutes an interesting reading for those who are interested in the GDR policy in Africa.
Ulrich van der Heyden, GDR International Development Policy Involvement. Doctrine and Strategies between Illusions and Reality 1960-1990, The example (South) Africa, Lit Verlag, Berlin. 2013. 316 pp.

Nicolas Levi Analyst on North and South Korea. He is an assistant professor at the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Author of 7 books, more than 20 academic articles, and over 50 analytical reports on the Korean Peninsula, Poland, and related issues. He conducts lectures at top universities in Poland and abroad.
czytaj więcej
Foreign Direct Investment in Vietnam
Thanks to continuous economic development, Vietnam attracts a record number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The catalyst for such a strong growth of FDI in Vietnam is not only the ongoing trade war between the US and China, but also new international agreements.
Jakub KrólczykBook review: “Korean Diaspora in Postwar Japan – Geopolitics, Identity and Nation-Building”
Book review of "Korean Diaspora in Postwar Japan - Geopolitics, Identity and Nation-Building", written by Kim Myung-ja and published by I.B Tauris in 2017.
Nicolas LeviWomen in Public Debate – A Guide to Organising Inclusive and Meaningful Discussions
On the occasion of International Women's Day, we warmly invite you to read our guide to good practices: "Women in Public Debate – A Guide to Organising Inclusive and Meaningful Discussions."
Ada DyndoIndian dream – interview with Samir Saran
Krzysztof Zalewski: India is a large country, both in terms of its population and its land area, with a fast-growing economy. It is perceived as a major new player on the global stage. What would the world order look like if co-organized by India? Samir Saran: India’s impact on the world order is already significant, but […]
Krzysztof ZalewskiBeyond Grey Hulls: Europe’s Role in “Crowdsourcing” Maritime Domain Awareness in the South China Sea
If developments observed in the South China Sea over the recent months are of any indication, it simply means that the situation has worsened. China’s continued aggression towards its neighbors – the Philippines and Vietnam in particular, has continued unabated.
Collin KohBook review: “Europe – North Korea. Between Humanitarianism And Business?”
Book review of "Europe – North Korea. Between Humanitarianism And Business?", written by Myung-Kyu Park, Bernhard Seliger, Sung-Jo Park (Eds.) and published by Lit Verlag in 2010.
Nicolas LeviTaiwanese Perceptions of Russia’s Ukraine war
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the Taiwanese government remained committed to its position of condemnation for Russia, humanitarian support for Ukraine, and deep appreciation and admiration for the Ukrainian people’s will to defy power, resist aggression, and defend their nation.
Kuan Ting ChenOnline Course: “Conflict Resolution and Democracy”
The course will be taught via interactive workshops, employing the Adam Institute’s signature “Betzavta – the Adam Institute’s Facilitation Method“, taught by its creator, Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman. The award-winning “Betzavta” method is rooted in an empirical approach to civic education, interpersonal communication and conflict resolution.
On conflict in the Middle East: Malik Dahlan’s Letter to President Isaac Herzog
This letter has been included into our Voices From Asia series, as we consider it a significant addition to the ongoing discussion surrounding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Malik DahlanUzbekistan, under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has embarked on a path of reform. Almost daily, the media there report on new initiatives and projects. It is no coincidence that in December 2019 The Economist awarded Uzbekistan the country of the year title.
Magdalena Sobańska-CwalinaNot only tests and masks: the history of Polish-Vietnamese mutual helpfulness
On the initiative of the Vietnamese community in Poland and Vietnamese graduates of Polish universities, our country received support from Vietnam - a country that deals with the threat posed by Sars-Cov-2 very effectively.
Grażyna Szymańska-MatusiewiczTo free oneself from the Chinese embrace. On Indo-Russian relations with Nandan Unnikrishnan
Interview with Nandan Unnikrishnan, who has served for many years as a correspondent for Indian media in Russia. Currently he is a research fellow at the Observer Research Foundation in Delhi. The interview was conducted during the Raisina Dialogue 2019 in Delhi.
Krzysztof Zalewski80th anniversary of Indonesian Proclamation of Independence and 70th anniversary of Poland-Indonesia diplomatic relations. April 23rd, at 10:00 am, aula im. prof. Waldemara Michowicza, ul. Lindleya 5A, Łódź.
“May you be the mother of a thousand sons” – the status of women in Indian society
The 1950 Indian Constitution introduced the principle of equal opportunities for gender equality, which grants women and men the same rights in family life, political, social and economic life. So why is it that nearly forty per cent of girls aged 15-17 do not attend school, the custom of dowry giving is still cultivated and prenatal sex selection is still a huge social problem?
Magdalena RybczyńskaThe strategic imperatives driving ASEAN-EU free trade talks: colliding values as an obstacle
Recently revived talks aimed at the conclusion of an inter-regional free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU) are driven by strategic imperatives of both regions.
Robin RamcharanPolish-Asian Cooperation in the Field of New Technologies – Report
Polish and Polish-founded companies are already on the largest continent in sectors such as: IT, educational technology, finance, marketing, e-commerce and space. Despite this, the potential lying dormant in the domestic innovation sector seems to be underutilized.
Time for a new normal – enhancing Europe’s military profile in the Indo-Pacific in 2025
2024 witnessed a notable stepping up of Europe’s military profile in the Indo-Pacific. Building on these developments, 2025 should be a year of continuation, bringing even more defence engagement of European states with their Indo-Pacific partners.
Jakub WitczakCentral Asia. The winding road to regional integration
The aim of the paper is to present the current stage of integration among the Central Asian republics and to analyze directions and dynamics of this process in the nearest future. This study also attempts to identify factors which can either slow down or strengthen the process of integration as well as its causes and consequences.
Jerzy OlędzkiThis is the second part of an inquiry into Ulaanbaatar’s winning 2040 General Development Plan Conception (GDPC). In this part of paper, I look into some of the plans and/or solutions proposed in Ulaanbaatar’s 2040 GDPC.
Paweł SzczapA letter from the Adam Institute in Jerusalem
This letter is part of our series on the Voices from Asia. We share our platform with Dr. Uki Maroshek-Klarman who serves as the Executive Director at the Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace in Jerusalem, Israel.
Uki Maroshek-KlarmanSearching for Japan’s Role in the World Amid the Russia-Ukraine War
The G7 Hiroshima Summit concluded on May 21 with a communiqué reiterating continued support for Ukraine in face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression. Although Japan was perceived at the onset of the war as reluctant to go beyond condemning Russia at the expense of its own interests, it has since become one of the leading countries taking action during the war.
Rintaro NishimuraFrom ‘strategic engagement’ to ‘competition’. Interview with William Yu
Ewelina Horoszkiewicz in conversation with Professor William Yu (UCLA) on USA, China and Europe. Professor William Yu is an economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast and specializes in the economies of Los Angeles and China.
Ewelina HoroszkiewiczNew Female Prime Minister Faces Thailand’s Political Turmoil
Thailand, known for military coups, political downfalls, and dashed democratic hopes, has a new Prime Minister. Paetongtarn Shinawatra is not only the youngest elected Prime Minister in the country's history and the second woman to hold this post, but she is also a member of the Shinawatra political dynasty.
Andżelika SerwatkaInterview: Why Does Poland Need ‘17+1’?
Interview with Michał Wójcik - Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Marine Economy and Inland Navigation (DWM MGMiŻŚ). In the Ministry, he is leading the Coordinating Secretariat for Maritime Issues , monitoring the cooperation of Central and Eastern European States with China.
Krzysztof Zalewski