Mocarstwowe aspiracje Niemiec w Europie XXI wieku: realia i perspektywy (Raport z badań)
Germany's great-power aspirations in 21st century Europe: realities and perspectives (Research Report)

Author(s): Bogdan Koszel
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Governance, Public Administration, Public Law, Geopolitics
Published by: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego
Keywords: Germany;
Summary/Abstract: Germany is at the stage of redefining its place in Europe and the world in the complex conditions of the 21st century. It is attempting to strengthen its international position in both transatlantic relations and in the European Union. However, this can be described as competition in the process of globalization, not striving for hegemony. At the same time, the pro-European trend in its foreign policy is being observed in Germany. Among the political elites of the Federal Republic of Germany, slogans are being used to return to the German Sonderweg and to resuscitate the so-called German question. There is an increasing openness in writing about the "de-Europeanization" (De-Europäisierung) of Germany and the "domestication" (Domestizierung) of German policy. Currently, elements of continuity and cautious changes prevail in German policy. The failure of the Constitution for Europe cherished by Germany and efforts to obtain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council have shown that Germany had much less capacity to act than it was generally credited with. A. Merkel's government is trying to sort out the situation, which is not so easy, considering the coalition nature of the government and sometimes - as the eurozone crisis has shown - troublesome cooperation with the FDP, and previously with the SPD. Social pacifism is still strong in the country, there is no question of universal agreement on the goals, role and place of the Federal Republic of Germany in the new international order.

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