English
Język Polski
The end of German Civilian Power? Zeitenwende in a constructivist perspective
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: In the article I pose a question whether Chancellor Scholz’s announcement of a “historic turning point” (Zeitenwende) three days after Russia’s full-scale invasion on Ukraine actually initiated a fundamental change in the German foreign and security policy, modifying in consequence Germany’s self-image as a Civilian Power.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The article proposes a constructivist view on the Zeitenwende slogan, its meaning and consequences. Constructivism in international relations studies focuses on the study of language and communication. The subjects of analysis are strategies, doctrines, speeches of politicians, etc. On this basis, it is reconstructed how various participants of international relations perceive (construct) a reality.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: I begin by presenting the German identity in the context of conducting foreign policy as a Zivilmacht-Handelsstaat (civilian power – trading state). Then I look at what is hidden under the “historic turning point” slogan. Finally, I analyse German strategies and guidelines published after the announcement of Zeitenwende.
RESEARCH RESULTS: When it comes to the main foreign policy assumptions and objectives, in the studied documents priority is put on the continuation of the Zivilmacht-Handelsstaat policy. The new self-image of a “defensible democracy” remains so far an identity project. Germany still perceives itself as a civilizing power.
CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The promotion of the “(global) historic turning point” slogan should be regarded as an attempt – at times inconsistent and selective – to impose and control a new discourse in international relations.
Keywords
Germany, Civilian Power, Zeitenwende, constructivism, national identity
Details
References
Indicators
Authors
Zasady cytowania
Licence
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a CC BY-ND licence that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are asked to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access). We advise to use any of the following reserach society portals: