A power divided

Germany's role on the international stage is a frequent target of criticism. German foreign policy seems at one time too assertive and selfish, at another time too alibi and fearful. The Federal Republic once enforces international rules harshly, only to violate them outright. Sometimes he remains a naive advocate of humanitarian values, while at other times he coldly pursues his business or security interests. The book by Jakub Eberle and Vladimír Handl provides an original explanation of these crises and contradictions. Germany, they argue, is a divided power whose political decision-making is the result of tensions and compromises between different, often contradictory, foreign policy identities. It examines in detail three controversial areas of German foreign policy: its relationship with Russia, its arms exports and its economic diplomacy. The authors thus challenge the notion that it is possible today to view the state as a single actor with an unambiguous foreign policy.