Lily Gardner Feldman: Germany's Foreign Policy of Reconciliation: From Enmity to Amity

Book Review by Simon Koschut

Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2012, pp. 412
ISBN-10: 0742526127 ISBN-13: 978-0742526129

Koschut, S. (2014) Review of Germany's Foreign Policy of Reconciliation: From Enmity to Amity by Feldman, L.G. AMITY: The Journal of Friendship Studies, 2:1, pp. 83-84. doi: 10.5518/AMITY/12

Abstract

Contemporary German foreign policy remains a puzzle for many. Following unification and the reestablishment of full sovereignty after the end of the Cold war, Germany is perhaps one of the most powerful actors in Europe in economic, demographic, and territorial terms combined. Yet, in contrast to Neorealist expectations in the discipline of International Relations the Berlin Republic has not reassumed a role as a ‘normal’ great power nor has it tried to dominate the continent. Instead, Germany continues to exercise “power with” other countries in stark contrast to its historical Other which emphasized “power over” its neighbours in Europe and beyond.