Between Westbindung and Ostpolitik: Reconceptualising German-Russian Relations 2014-2017
Mezi Westbindung a Ostpolitik: Rekonceptualizace německo-ruských vztahů v letech 2014-2017
diploma thesis (DEFENDED)
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Permanent link
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11956/112510Identifiers
Study Information System: 216726
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- Kvalifikační práce [17632]
Author
Advisor
Referee
Escriba, Abel
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Social Sciences
Discipline
European Politics and Society: Vaclav Havel Joint Master Programme
Department
Department of European Studies
Date of defense
23. 9. 2019
Publisher
Univerzita Karlova, Fakulta sociálních vědLanguage
English
Grade
Excellent
Keywords (English)
Key words: German-Russian relations, German foreign policy, Discourse Analysis, Role Theory, SPD, CDU, CSU, National Role Conceptions, social constructivismGerman-Russian relations have remained strong since the Cold War, despite continuing in traditions of multilateralism and integrated into the Western order. Despite recent tensions and deterioration since the Ukraine Crisis, German-Russian relations are a subject of intense debate between the political parties CDU/CSU and SPD that governed Germany in a coalition from 2014-2017. This thesis utilises a social constructivist method to focus on social factors and party-political legacies relevant in the evolving relationship. It then analyses the evolving discourse of the parties about Russia in the years 2014-2017, focusing on the different ways the discourse uses and connects with the factors and legacies. Although a parallel movement is discerned between the foreign policy positions of the CDU/CSU and SPD, the parties' positions do not converge but remain in conflict about the future of European security, cooperation with Russia and the desired foreign policy role of Germany. Throughout, the analysis suggests that contemporary theories about German-Russian relations and about Germany's foreign policy role should look at the internal debates and factors to get a more complete picture of German foreign policy. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)