Germany has to lead - in the EU and beyond
Unless Germany is leading, the EU is essentially blocked as an international actor. To be more effective itself, and more useful to its partners, Germany has to face and deal with the structural weaknesses of its foreign policy and of the political establishment that stands behind it. On managing the relationship with Russia, Germany bears a special responsibility within the European Union.
Some critics consider Germany to be lonely, adrift, unreliable, indecisive, unsure and even afraid of itself, overly moralistic and emotional on the surface while nakedly pragmatic, business deal-cutting, beneath it.
Today's Germany is the economic powerhouse of the European Union; a leading global trading nation; a principled and law-abiding member of the international community; a country which has done a fundamental rethinking of its own troubled history and the difficult relations it had had with its neighbors; a nation that now both preaches and practices its values, and which values morality. It is an informal, if somewhat reluctant leader of the EU, and a loyal, if occasionally critical, ally of the United States within NATO.
Germany has achieved this enviable position through its singular effort of re-inventing itself after 1945, building a successful social market economy during the Cold War years, and as a result of the country's peaceful reunification in 1990. By means of its carefully thought-through policies during the 2009-11 euro crisis, Germany has shown its capacity to lead its partners out of the serious predicament. However, it can, and must do more.
With Germany as the European Union's democratic leader, Europe can enhance its role and influence in the world. If Germany is not leading, the EU is essentially blocked as an international actor, which means lost opportunities and a reduced global impact.
Germany's foreign policy has recently come under criticism, both from within the country and from among its closest allies. Some critics consider Germany to be lonely, adrift, unreliable, indecisive, unsure and even afraid of itself, overly moralistic and emotional on the surface while nakedly pragmatic, business deal-cutting, beneath it. Much of the criticism is serious and worth considering, but taken together it adds up to a caricature.
Today's Germany, it is true, is not an all-round power. It is not a full-fledged military force, even though the Bundeswehr is a modern well-trained army. It is not a geopolitical actor, despite its central position in Europe and a set of interests and rich and varied experience in the lands beyond. More important, it is not a strategic player, although its major companies are used to taking a long strategic view of their own fields, and of the general global operating environment.
These limitations were the features of Germany's position and role during the Cold War and post-Cold War periods. Then, they were organic to the international system prevailing at the time. Now, they need to be reassessed. To be more effective itself, and more useful to its partners, Germany has to face up to and deal with the structural weaknesses of its foreign policy, and of the political establishment which stands behind it.
Overview for this article
1
Germany's Need for a Global Role, and how to Embrace it
2
From Economic Power to Political Influence
3
Building a Culture of Foreign Policy
