„the grassroots opposition movements made the biggest contribution to the revolution that started in East Germany in autumn 1989“
That is a myth german people like to believe. In fact the real reason for the breakdown of communist east europe was that the governments of East Germany, Hungary, Poland, USSSR … were bankrupt:
As long as dictatorships are doing well economically, they will find ways and means to suppress uprisings. This makes effective economic sanctions, including harsh penalties for companies that do business with dictators, all the more important.
That is a myth german people like to believe. In fact the real reason for the breakdown of communist east europe was that the governments of East Germany, Hungary, Poland, USSSR … were bankrupt:
https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/grenzoeffnung-1989-schu...
As long as dictatorships are doing well economically, they will find ways and means to suppress uprisings. This makes effective economic sanctions, including harsh penalties for companies that do business with dictators, all the more important.