Magnetic theory
The magnetic theory is a political theory developed by Kurt Schumacher ( SPD ) for West German post-war politics. Heart of the theory of 1946 / 47 's the thought that an economically strengthened West Germany put the East magnetic and will thus lead to all-German unit. Schumacher wanted an international Europe that strives for a socialist economy and democratic politics, but not an anti-Soviet Western bloc. Germany should orientate itself neither to the east nor to the west.
In addition to the incentives of a free society, this was intended to encourage the population of the GDR to move to the West. This prompted the leadership of the GDR to build the Berlin Wall , as especially young, well-educated people left the GDR and the economy was lacking there.
After an initial rejection, Konrad Adenauer ( CDU ) took up the core point of this magnetic theory, but changed it himself by a few points. Adenauer's concept was not based on a mere magnetic effect, but on a "policy of strength" that would give the West advantages and leeway in negotiating situations with the Eastern Bloc countries, primarily the Soviet Union . So the western zones should be united to a federal state (without the Soviet occupation zone ). The German economy should be intertwined with the French economy in order to strengthen the economy of Western Europe. The theory thus anticipates the first approaches to the European Union .
In a certain way, the magnetic theory can be seen as confirmed, since the resistance of the GDR population against their government was strongly shaped by material wishes (“golden west”), which pushed the problems of capitalism ( unemployment , social differentiation) into the background .