Civilian Powers and the Use of Force: The Evolution of Germany as a ‘Realist Civilian Power’

Abstract

Because of Germany’s rising economic and political clout not only in European but also in global politics, it is worth analysing the dynamics of change and continuity in Germany’s policy towards the use of force. This article aims to critically examine the evolution of Germany’s civilian power characteristics based on three case studies of Kosovo, Afghanistan, and the uprisings in the Middle East, by using the theoretical framework of realist constructivism. The article tries to answer the following research questions: To what extent has Germany been able to maintain its traditional peaceful foreign policy in the new “global disorder”? Which factors affect its decision to be involved or not in military interventions in various regional and global conflicts? What does the German case tell us about the evolution of civilian powers in the current global circumstances?