Centre Thucydide - analyse et recherche en relations internationales

The industrial policy : mishaps and misfortunes of the German-French cooperation

UTERWEDDE Henrik — 2010-01-19T03:20:07Z

Industrial policy has always been an area for German-French cooperation, which has proved both symbolic and difficult. The success of EADS shows the how a common political will can contribute to a modern European industry. Yet, the company's recent troubles, as well as a certain number of other critical German-French incidents, display the ambivalence between partnership and rivalry. In spite of rather converging practices, industrial policy production structures, blueprints and approaches still differ. Likewise, the political will to generate the creation of European or German-French ‘champions' is confronted with company logics and industrial nationalisms. France and Germany should base their cooperation on the European regulatory framework instead, and thus create favourable conditions for innovation and competitiveness.

- The Franco-German Friendship / Books and articles, Europe, Germany, France

Transborder cooperation between France and Germany. Towards a transnational political and administrative integration ?

NAGELSCHMIDT Martin — 2010-01-19T03:12:54Z

Transborder cooperation between France and Germany reveals fundamental changes concerning institutional structures as well as administrative and political functions. The typical patterns of partial and sectorial cooperation, which often remained punctual in character and dominated by administrative executives at different levels of cooperation, have given way to the evolution of systems of cross-border multilevel cooperation with quite differentiated functions. The success of these evolving new transnational systems of transborder cooperation will depend on the division of work in levels, institutions, political and administrative functions in the aim of real transborder multilevel governance.

- The Franco-German Friendship / Books and articles, Europe, Germany, France

Germany and NATO - an Uneasy Relationship

BAUER Thomas — 2010-01-18T13:33:00Z

NATO has been a central pillar for Germany's security system for more than sixty years now. Yet, Germany's reunification has reduced its role and led to question the future of the Organisation and its missions, as well as Germany's position within this collective security structure. The German public opinion, usually hostile to any kind of foreign military intervention, questions NATO as its necessity is perceived to be increasingly diminishing for German security in a peaceful European context. The wide disapproval of the war of Iraq has undermined transatlantic relations. Thus, the future commitment of the Bundeswehr – who, scarcely supported by the population, and undergoing a thorough and complete change in the Afghan conflict, is the focal point for German public criticism – will prove decisive for future relations between NATO and Germany.

- 02. America and transatlantic relations / Books and articles, Europe, NATO, Security, United States, Germany, European Union

German defence and security strategy. Current trends and challenges

BAUER Thomas — 2008-07-24T12:20:08Z

Abstract

Ever since Germany has been reunified, it has gone through deep changes in its policy concerning defence and the use of force. The Bundeswehr has forgone a strictly defensive pattern so as to adjust to new operational necessities, particularly in the case of projection. This change has proved necessary for the pursuit of an active participation to NATO, UN and EU actions in which Germany is involved. The new army, which can act outside of the national territory, is plagued with chronic under-funding and more particularly the lack of definition of its aims and attributes. The institutional complexity of the armed forces recruiting system for foreign operations and the necessity of moral justification to their interventions must also be mentioned. The new 2006 White Paper did not succeed in clarifying the army's objectives, as it suffers from the German politicians and population's disinterest for international subjects.

AFRI 2008 Summary

Germany reunited and the new French-German relationships in the new Europe. 1990-2006

COLARD Daniel — 2008-03-18T15:42:25Z

Abstract

Reunited Germany's position in Europe has evolved a lot since the end of the Cold War, from the signature of the Treaty of Moscow in 1990, establishing reunited Germany's new status, to Angela Merkel's ascent to the top function, making her the first female Chancellor. Within this context, the French-German alliance has seen its part evolve according to the different and successive French-German pairs (Mitterrand-Kohl from 1982 to 1995, Chirac-Schröder from 1998 to 2005). New challenges, especially on the matter of Europe, await the next French-German pair.

AFRI 2007 Summary