Friday, March 14, 2014
Empire (Omni Shoreham)
Throughout the post-war period, the Federal Republic of Germany’s (FRG) internal perception and external representation as a foreign policy actor has been largely limited to a European stage and constrained by the geopolitical realities and attitudinal characteristics that framed its ‘semi-sovereignty’ (Katzenstein, 1987). Only since German unification in 1990 have there been signs of a greater engagement and ambition in German foreign policy. However, claims that Germany is now a ‘reluctant hegemon’ in Europe must be carefully contextualised and differentiated (Bulmer and Paterson, 2013; Krönig 2013). This paper explores the key characteristics of Germany’s external policy profile, including: its continuing focus on Europe; its construction of a leadership role in economic rather than geopolitical terms; and its conflicted but changing self-perception as a participant in international security operations. The paper argues that the key to a ‘normalised’ foreign policy role for Germany lies in the political elites’ ability to reconstruct historic negative self- and external perceptions of the military in Germany to promote a constructive narrative linking national confidence with an external security role. Political elites have recognised and acted on a need to change a ‘culture of restraint’ deeply embedded in German public attitudes (Baumann and Hellman, 2001). The paper assesses changing public discourses on the military in relation to policy developments throughout Chancellor Merkel’s period in office. It argues that achieving a positive reconstruction of Germany’s contemporary relationship with its military would open the door to a geopolitical ambition more in keeping with the country’s global economic position.
