For the past five decades Germany and the United States of America have been reliable allies. They strongly focused on common interests and threats and worked hand in hand to overcome problems and crises. The USA protected West Germany from the Soviet threat by sponsoring economic growth through the Marshall plan, it kept West Berlin alive through the airlift in 1948/49 and helped to establish a civil democracy with an economic success story that was until that point in history unheard of. “On October 3, 1990, German unification was achieved, due in large part to close German-American diplomatic cooperation despite resistance from France, Britain, and the Soviet Union, all of whom feared that a reunified Germany would upset the stable balance in Europe.” Throughout time Germany and the USA had built a partnership that was founded on trust, friendship, extensive cooperation on numerous levels and common interests. After reunification the partnership seemed so strong and stable, that President George H. W. Bush called Germany “a partner in leadership”. Of course the transatlantic relations have never been trouble-free. There were differences and arguments on several occasions. One crisis, among others, developed in 1979 over NATO’s decision to deploy intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Germany. A wide spectrum of the German population was quite critical about the policies of the American Administration, yet the phenomenon of strong, far-reaching and fundamental Anti-Americanism could mostly be confined to the radical political left. Furthermore “in these and other cases of friction between the United States, the German chancellor voiced criticism but in the end supported American policy.” In the past few years this has changed dramatically. A widespread conflagration of Anti-Americanism has spread throughout the German society and its political elite. Demonstrations against a war in Iraq drew a new crowd of anti-American protesters. “Demonstrators came not only from the ranks of the usual suspects-i.e., the till-then virtually dormant peace movements, left and green political parties, and universities and schools- but also from church groups, trade unions, and community associations. To a surprisingly high degree, they represented people who had never before attended a demonstration.” It seems that Anti-Americanism has become the GermanLingua franca.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Moravcsik's liberal core assumptions
- From 9/11 to the Iraq War
- 9/11 and the German reaction
- Afghanistan War/ Operation Enduring Freedom
- Iraq War/ Operation Iraqi Freedom
- The sources and possible consequences of Anti-Americanism in Germany
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The paper examines the emergence of anti-American sentiment in Germany following the 9/11 era. It investigates the sources of these sentiments and analyzes whether they influenced German foreign policy decision-making. The paper uses Andrew Moravcsik's liberal theory as a framework for analysis, focusing on his core assumptions.
- The impact of domestic societal actors on state preferences and foreign policy decision-making
- The role of the German public opinion in shaping the country's relationship with the United States
- The influence of the Iraq War on German-American relations
- The sources and consequences of anti-Americanism in Germany
- The applicability of Liberal IR theory to understand post-9/11 German foreign policy
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the research question and provides background information on the historical relationship between Germany and the United States. It highlights the shift in German public opinion towards anti-Americanism following the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq War.
- Moravcsik's liberal core assumptions: This chapter provides an overview of Moravcsik's liberal theory of international relations. It explains his three core assumptions: the primacy of societal actors, representation and state preferences, and interdependence and the international system. The chapter explores how these assumptions can be applied to the study of anti-American sentiment in Germany.
- From 9/11 to the Iraq War: This chapter examines the development of German foreign policy and public opinion towards the United States in the period following 9/11, culminating in the Iraq War. It analyzes the German reaction to the 9/11 attacks, the country's participation in the Afghanistan War, and the growing opposition to the Iraq War.
- The sources and possible consequences of Anti-Americanism in Germany: This chapter investigates the potential sources of anti-American sentiment in Germany. It explores factors such as differing perspectives on the Iraq War, the perception of American foreign policy, and the role of the media.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Anti-Americanism, Germany, United States, foreign policy, liberal theory, Moravcsik, 9/11, Iraq War, public opinion, societal actors, state preferences, international relations, domestic politics.
- Citation du texte
- Nils Schmieder (Auteur), 2005, Anti-Americanism in post 9/11 Germany, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/54715
