German European Policy: Past, Present and Future

Crises have occurred regularly in the history of European political integration. The crisis that the European Union (EU) has been traversing since 2010 is, however, its deepest, most intractable and most protracted. The uniquely high level and scope of political integration that has developed in Europe over the last 60 years is primarily attributable to the strong support that successive German governments have given to his process. Whether, how and to what extent the EU survives the current crisis is therefore likely to depend heavily on the orientation of German European policy. 

Douglas Webber will describe the historical evolution of this policy, explain why Germany has so long been ‘pro-European’ and analyse how and why its European policy has shifted since the end of the Cold War and the onset of the global financial and Euro zone crises.

In 1990, John Mearsheimer argued in Foreign Affairs that we would “soon miss the Cold War”.  Germany, Mearsheimer asserted, would grow closer to Russia; Germany’s solidarity with the NATO alliance would no longer be as stable and predictable; and German governments would become more assertive in advancing their national interests, both within and outside Europe. A unified Germany, no longer entirely dependent upon Washington for its security, would also have fewer reasons to be committed to the EU integration process. The post-Cold War period also saw German governments re-orient their foreign economic policy towards the EU’s eastern periphery, as well as East and South Asia and the Americas. The German industrial and financial sectors have become increasingly integrated with emerging markets, thus reducing Germany’s level of interdependence with its EU economic partners. 

Remy Davison argues that the fragmentation of the Berlin-Paris-Brussels consensus, combined with Germany’s regional hegemonic status, has meant that Berlin’s EU partners are increasingly compelled to comply with the German model of European integration. 

Speakers

DOUGLAS WEBBER is Professor of Political Science at the international business school, (INSEAD), based at its Europe campus in Fontainebleau.

Dr RÉMY DAVISON is Jean Monnet Chair in Politics & Economics in the Department of Politics and International Relations at Monash University, and Associate Director of the Monash European and EU Centre (MEEUC).

When

24TH SEPTEMBER, 12:30pm – 2:00pm

Where

RMIT, CITY CAMPUS
Council Chamber, building 1, level 2
124-126 La Trobe St
Melbourne 

RSVP to https://germaneupolicy.eventbrite.com.au for catering purposes

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European Union Centre at RMIT
Web: rmit.edu.au/eucentre