Honecker Doctrine

The Honecker Doctrine refers to the foreign policy approach of East Germany's leader, Erich Honecker, during the Cold War. It emphasized the idea that nations should be governed by their own socialist systems without external interference, particularly from the West. This doctrine asserted that the communist government in East Germany was legitimate and should be supported by other socialist countries. It also rejected the idea of reunification with West Germany unless it occurred under socialist principles. Essentially, the Honecker Doctrine aimed to maintain the East German state and its socialist ideology against Western influence.