University of Sussex
Browse
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

Download (325.84 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 13:49 authored by Kai Oppermann
This 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 Politics

ISSN

0964-4008

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Department affiliated with

  • Politics Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex European Institute Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-06-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-12-11

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-06-18

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC