8th SED party conference: after Ulbricht’s downfall, the "socialist community" that he propagated is shelved. Erich Honecker sets out a new, pragmatic course: he says the new "main task" of SED policies is to be the further "improvement of the material and cultural living standards of the people on the basis of a high rate of development of socialist production, an increase in the effectiveness of scientific, technological progress and the growth of productivity."
The raising of living standards, later termed the "unity of economic and social policies", is intended to counter any more strikes and ensure inner stability. The change of direction towards a form of consumer socialism follows a resolution to this end at the 24th CPSU party conference of April 1971.
Erich Mielke is promoted to the SED Politburo. In the ensuing years, the extension of the State Security leads to an all-encompassing surveillance network.less
