Germany's pivotal role in the construction of a common European house
type: CreativeWork
description: In the wake of the bipolar order, a political and strategic reconfiguration of Europe is necessary that reflects the current international atmosphere. Germany's reunification has prompted a reappraisal of that country's economic, political, and security role in Europe. Germany is a central element to any new European order due to its geography, economic and political clout, and its unique historical position between East and West; In light of recent changes, the relevance of neofunctional integration theory has been revived. The intergovernmental conferences at Maastricht on economic and political union demonstrate that functional and political "spill-over" are complemented by cultivated "spill-over"--the use of diplomacy to upgrade the common interest of integrating members. This refinement lends neofunctionalism a new relevancy in light of Europe's emerging order; Germany has demonstrated a dramatic break with its militaristic past and demonstrated its commitment to the institutions of the West. The German polity has undergone a fundamental change and the country has become a stable liberal democracy. Its commitment to restructuring European economic, political, and security institutions to incorporate all European nations should mitigate the fears of Germany's neighbors of a return to its hegemonic, militaristic past.
abstract: In the wake of the bipolar order, a political and strategic reconfiguration of Europe is necessary that reflects the current international atmosphere. Germany's reunification has prompted a reappraisal of that country's economic, political, and security role in Europe. Germany is a central element to any new European order due to its geography, economic and political clout, and its unique historical position between East and West; In light of recent changes, the relevance of neofunctional integration theory has been revived. The intergovernmental conferences at Maastricht on economic and political union demonstrate that functional and political "spill-over" are complemented by cultivated "spill-over"--the use of diplomacy to upgrade the common interest of integrating members. This refinement lends neofunctionalism a new relevancy in light of Europe's emerging order; Germany has demonstrated a dramatic break with its militaristic past and demonstrated its commitment to the institutions of the West. The German polity has undergone a fundamental change and the country has become a stable liberal democracy. Its commitment to restructuring European economic, political, and security institutions to incorporate all European nations should mitigate the fears of Germany's neighbors of a return to its hegemonic, militaristic past.
author: Wallin, John P
language: English
date published: 1992-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-24T05:24:15Z
provider: University of Nevada - Las Vegas
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.25669/h6kg-z46k