Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Kai Oppermann - accepted on 11 June 2018.pdf (325.84 kB)
Between a rock and a hard place? Navigating domestic and international expectations on German foreign policy
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 13:49 authored by Kai OppermannThis article takes stock of German foreign policy during Angela Merkel's third term in office (2013–17). It argues that the longer-term significance of Germany's foreign policy during this period is twofold. First, the Merkel government was confronted with multiple European and international crises which worked as a magnifying glass for the growing international expectations on Germany to become more actively engaged on the international stage. Second, the tenure of the Grand Coalition saw a significant shift in the German domestic foreign policy discourse that was marked by a concerted effort of leading decision-makers to make the case for Germany to accept greater international responsibilities. This emerging consensus among foreign policy elites expresses a changed self-conception of German foreign policy which, however, continues to be viewed with scepticism in the broader public. Informed by such a broad two-level perspective that focuses on the interplay between international and domestic expectations on German foreign policy, the article explores the record of the Grand Coalition in the main international crises it had to engage with. It suggests that the Merkel government was better able to live up to its own aspirations in two-level contexts which left it with greater domestic room for manoeuvre.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
German PoliticsISSN
0964-4008Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Department affiliated with
- Politics Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Sussex European Institute Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-06-19First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-12-11First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-06-18Usage metrics
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