German Hard Power
Report

German Hard Power

Is There a There There?

Patrick Keller
AEI, 2013
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Comprehensive
  • Analytical
  • Innovative

Recommendation

Germany, the economic and political powerhouse of the Continent, should be the guiding force for Europe’s resurgence as a strategic global player. But Germany evinces a deeply ambivalent attitude regarding its defense forces. Security expert Patrick Keller examines why, but he underestimates the complexity of German opposition. Nevertheless, getAbstract commends Keller’s article for the depth of his analysis.

Summary

No other developed nation is as conflicted about the use of hard power as Germany. The country’s ambivalence about deploying force for political ends stems from its profound historical guilt. Germany – Europe’s economic and political powerhouse – is the obvious candidate to lead Europe in defense and strategic policy. But Germany will not take the reins and can’t decide on the current and future role of its defense forces.

Scholars regularly employ one of two competing stories attempt to explain Germany’s defense policy. The first, “look how far we’ve come,” cites the participation of the armed forces (Bundeswehr...

About the Author

Patrick Keller is a national security expert at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

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