The evil German is back
In 1945, the evil Germans were defeated, captured, or dead. This was followed by decades of good Germans who were grateful that they had been spared the Morgenthau Plan, that they had been accepted back into the community of civilized nations, and that they had been integrated into Western Europe.
The new West Germany, called the Federal Republic, proved to be a useful member of a Western European community from which the EU emerged.
This harmonious order broke down when, under Helmut Kohl, East Germany – the GDR – was integrated into West Germany in a process called reunification. It is pointless to speculate how Europe's architecture would have developed if, by replacing the GDR a state similar to Austria had been created – rebuilt with West German money, but independent.
The fact is that this new, reunified Germany, by its sheer size, has disrupted the Western European order.
As long as German governments continue to act in a European manner and pursue Western policies, relative calm will prevail. Of course, the growing economic power of German companies -- which sometimes act clumsily in other European countries -- is noticeable. But the most important change that took place occurred in the German national psyche.
The mere fact that you can drive from Munich to Berlin without having to cross a border is more than just an achievement. It is a reminder of Germany's former greatness, even if the old East beyond the Oder and Neisse rivers is missing.
This new Germany is steeped in self-confidence. Not only does it have victorious soccer teams, it is also the largest country in Western Europe. No one except Russia can tell us Germans what to do.
Its neighbors are taking note of this change with growing unease. This was clearly evident in the reactions to Germany's intention to make the Bundeswehr the strongest military power in Europe (after Russia). Okay, you need a German military, but its existence brings back bad memories. Only Poland, which is heavily rearming, seems to have no problem with German rearmament.
Our neighbors are patient. They are giving Germany a chance. Whatever happens in Europe, they look to Berlin: what is the German position? After casting a critical eye on Washington (and Beijing), they turn to Berlin.
The Germans like that. They may be a small superpower, but still...
So far, it's worked out well. The Germans are playing along in Europe (for the most part); there's no real conflict anywhere.
All of that is now in question. The question mark is called AfD. The rise of this largely right-wing extremist party so far gives rise to fears of evil. Will the new German self-confidence bring this party to power?
In close friendship with Putin? Putinia from the Urals to the Oder-Neisse border and Hoeckenia from the Oder-Neisse to the Atlantic?
No, Russia does not need AfD. It can do the job by itself, alone.....
Poutine ne veut pas négocier avec l’Ukraine — il veut avancer en Europe.
Alors que la semaine qui s’ouvre pourrait marquer un tournant dans la guerre d’Ukraine, la dernière livraison de la revue officielle de la diplomatie russe est explicite : « les pays occidentaux sont toujours mieux disposés à écouter lorsque les troupes russes mettent le pied à Paris ou à Berlin. »...Nous la traduisons.
Le Grand Continent
Initialement paru dans La Vie internationale, organe central de la diplomatie lavrovienne, « Brûler jusqu’à la Manche ? Quelles garanties de sécurité efficaces à l’heure d’un affrontement historique entre la Russie et l’Occident » postule en effet que « les pays occidentaux sont toujours mieux disposés à écouter lorsque les troupes russes mettent le pied à Paris ou à Berlin ».
Loin de restreindre le conflit à l’Ukraine, ses trois auteurs évoquent plutôt une Russie en ordre de bataille, parfaitement disposée à réaffirmer ses prétentions en Europe fut-ce au prix d’une guerre totale.