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Germany and the European Union

Europeanized Yet Hegemonic?

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Handbuch Europäische Union

Abstract

Germany has been at the heart of European integration from the outset. At first this was due to the wish to build Franco-German reconciliation after a turbulent prior history as well as being attentive to German division in the Cold War context. The Federal Republic’s role in integration is charted through the ‘pre-sovereign’ and ‘semi-sovereign’ periods through to the challenge presented by unification in 1990. A key component of the FRG’s emergence as a committed European player is its relationship with France. The post-unity period raises concerns about German power in the European Union that are explored in the context of the Eurozone and refugee crises. Due to its embracing of integration the FRG has experienced considerable Europeanization. However, there are challenges ahead for managing how the domestic politics of the EU’s strongest member state impact on the EU in light of domestic challenges (particularly the rise of Alternative for Germany) and the international one prompted by Brexit. How the Berlin government handles these and related challenges will be critical to the EU’s future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Politics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, Großbritannien

    Simon Bulmer

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  1. Simon Bulmer
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Correspondence to Simon Bulmer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin, Germany

    Peter Becker

  2. Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, Berlin, Germany

    Barbara Lippert

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Bulmer, S. (2020). Germany and the European Union. In: Becker, P., Lippert, B. (eds) Handbuch Europäische Union. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-17409-5_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-17409-5_6

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