Towards More Pragmatism: German Foreign Policy after the Euro Crisis

Abstract:

In a crisis-ridden Europe Germany is at the center of the debate regarding the question of future power and leadership within the EU. Even those analysts in the country, who in the past preferably referred to the country’s 'culture of restraint' as the main characteristic principle of its foreign policy, today bemoan the shortcomings for more global influence in terms of targeted investments in 'power and its responsible use' and ascribe it as the new, 'irreplaceable' power centre within Europe. The following article will analyse the debate by looking at Germany’s role in the most recent and relevant crises.