The end of the Cold War in 1989/90 did not only prompt a fundamental transformation of the international system as a whole; it equally changed the expectations and perceptions of key nation-states acting within that system. This was, as most scholars of International Relations (IR) agree, especially true with regard to reunited Germany. In the run-up to the negotiations of the 'Two-plus-Four Treaty', many observers feared that the demise of the East-West confrontation might encourage the Federal Republic to completely strip off its post-war restraints and use its revamped resources and autonomy more forcefully.
By the same token, some European leaders — notably French President François Mitterrand and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — voiced concerns that a resurgence of German power politics seemed far from being just a theoretical possibility. Indeed, some indications of a renewed German propensity to 'go it alone' emerged even before the legal and political terms of unification had been clarified. Chancellor Kohl's '10 Points Plan' of November 1989 aroused deep scepticism. Even more alarmingly, German contributions to armed operations in Bosnia and Kosovo were perceived as incidents of a much more self-cofident security posture.
However, a vast majority of German politicians was eager to defuse their neighbours' suspicions, emphasising that they would retain their commitment to a culture of 'civilian power.' The country would remain a driving force for deeper and wider European integration as well as multilateralism within the frameworks of the UN, NATO and CSCE/OSCE. Yet, despite these efforts to address other states' concerns, some observers doubted whether Germany would actually be willing and able to stick to its 'leadership avoidance reflex' in the future.
Almost two decades after reunification, it might thus be worthwhile to ask: is Germany still a 'civilian power'? To answer this question, I will first describe different dimensions of political power as they are treated in IR theory and illustrate what 'civilian power' means in this context. Secondly, I will outline in how far particular concepts of foreign policy (FP) behaviour — the models of 'security', 'trading' and 'civilian states' — are capable of grasping the notion of civilian power. Section 4 relates these conceptual frameworks to important features of Germany's actual FP conduct before and after the watershed events of 1989/90.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Dimensions of Power in International Relations: Defining and Illustrating the 'Civilian' Component
- Civilian Power as an Explanatory Framework in IR Theory: A Brief Discussion of Different Notions of Statehood in Contemporary Foreign Policy Analysis
- The 'Security State': Neorealism and the Goal of Maximising National Power in a Context of International Anarchy
- The 'Trading State': Neoliberalism and the Goal of Maximising National Welfare in a Context of Economic Interdependence
- The 'Civilian State': Constructivism and the Goal of Promoting National Values in a Context of Normative Change
- Germany's International Role after the End of the Cold War: Promoter of Norms, Global Trader or Rising Military Power?
- Identity (Re-)Construction and the Legacy of Internal Division
- The Foreign Policy of the Federal Republic since 1989/90: Major Trends and Developments
- Bosnia and Kosovo as Critical Junctures: Civilian Ethos and Military Engagement as Complementary or Contradictory Elements within Germany's 'New' Foreign Policy Strategy?
- Conclusion: A Self-confident but Prudent Actor on the World Stage
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the concept of 'civilian power' in the context of German foreign policy, analyzing whether Germany continues to be a 'civilian power' nearly two decades after reunification. It aims to define 'civilian power' within the framework of international relations theory and evaluate its applicability to Germany's foreign policy behavior.- The concept of 'civilian power' in International Relations theory
- Different notions of statehood in contemporary foreign policy analysis
- Germany's international role after the end of the Cold War
- Germany's foreign policy strategy in the context of Bosnia and Kosovo
- The question of whether Germany is still a 'civilian power'
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The essay opens by exploring the implications of German reunification for its role in the international system. It highlights the anxieties of other nations regarding a potential resurgence of German power, citing examples such as concerns expressed by French and British leaders. The introduction also introduces the concept of 'civilian power' and poses the central question of whether Germany remains a 'civilian power' in the post-Cold War era.
- Dimensions of Power in International Relations: Defining and Illustrating the 'Civilian' Component: This section examines various definitions of political power in international relations, distinguishing between power as an attribute, a resource, and a relationship. It clarifies the concept of 'civilian power' as a specific category of political power, encompassing three dimensions: domestic norms, relational aspects, and structural features. This section also contrasts 'civilian power' with the notion of 'soft power', emphasizing the use of incentives and persuasion to influence others.
- Civilian Power as an Explanatory Framework in IR Theory: A Brief Discussion of Different Notions of Statehood in Contemporary Foreign Policy Analysis: This chapter delves into different frameworks for analyzing foreign policy behavior, focusing on the concepts of 'security', 'trading', and 'civilian states'. It examines how these concepts relate to 'civilian power' and the pursuit of national interests in an international system.
- Germany's International Role after the End of the Cold War: Promoter of Norms, Global Trader or Rising Military Power?: This section analyzes Germany's post-Cold War international role, exploring its identity reconstruction and the legacies of internal division. It examines the major trends and developments in German foreign policy since 1989/90, evaluating its approach towards European integration, multilateralism, and the potential for military engagement. The chapter also examines the significance of Bosnia and Kosovo as critical junctures in shaping Germany's foreign policy strategy, exploring whether civilian and military elements are complementary or contradictory.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This essay explores key themes and concepts within international relations and foreign policy analysis, focusing on the role of 'civilian power' in Germany's post-Cold War foreign policy. It examines theoretical frameworks such as neorealism, neoliberalism, and constructivism, as well as relevant concepts such as national security, economic interdependence, and normative change. The essay also analyzes Germany's international role, its identity reconstruction, and its engagement in international organizations such as the UN, NATO, and the OSCE.- Quote paper
- Dipl.-Pol., MSc (IR) Jan-Henrik Petermann (Author), 2006, German Foreign Policy and the Concept of 'Civilian Power', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182614
