Germany and the Art of Coalition Building (in Special Issue: The Future of European Foreign Policy)

Abstract: Due to its particular foreign policy role concept as a 'civilian power', Germany has frequently assumed the role of a 'coalition-builder', both within the European Union and beyond. Looking at the two cases of Iraq in 2002/3 and Iran in 2002-2006, this article explores the concept of Germany as a coalition-builder more closely and identifies conditions under which Germany was (a) successful and (b) effective as a coalition-builder. Next to America, Germany has traditionally been particularly successful and also quite effective as a coalition builder, and it shows signs of again returning to form under Chancellor Merkel and her grand coalition government. But a changing international context makes effective coalition building more difficult than in the past, and Germany will need not only the political will and the necessary resources, but also cooperative partners and vibrant international institutions to make its future coalition-building efforts effective.

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