Germany and the Middle East - Hardcover

Inhaltsangabe

The Federal Republic's relationship with the Middle East in the post-war period has been largely informed by the legacy of the Hitler period and the division of Germany as a result of the war. The need to expunge the past manifested itself in the "special relationship" with Israel, which included substantial reparations, development assistance and military support for the Jewish state until the 1970s. The Federal Republic's foreign policy in the post-war period centred largely on Europe, and to the extent that Germany retained a "policy" in other areas of the world, it was more a product of commercial interests. The special relationship with Israel has made a policy of involvement in the Middle East more difficult. Recent events have shown that there may be circumstances when even a UN-supported operation appears too risky or morally ambigouos to achieve a strong domestic consensus in Germany. The debate in German society, which involves self-image and identity as well as the allocation of resources will continue. There is no reason that the recent crisis in the Middle East is the last one or that on future occasions Germany will not again be under pressure to take sides or make a commitment. Despite Germany's enhanced importance on an international level, that country remains cautious and even ambivalent about assuming a greater political role outside of Europe. This problem has been further complicated by German reunification, which may lead to a more internalized, rather than international policy. This volume assesses the future of Germany's relations with the Middle East, both commercial and political.

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