Between Delineation and Entanglement. A Comparative Analysis of German Post-War History in the Areas of Foreign and Security Policy 1955 – 1990

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Franz-Josef Meiers
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: from 2018 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405693564

The central question of the comparative analysis is to what extent the parting past of both German states can be understood as a shared, interacting history shaped by the same challenges. Based on three issues in the areas of foreign and security policy two guiding questions will verified:1. Did the specific German German commonalities of the Nazi past and the dangers of the atomic age subverted the system anatagonism and created a common interest to provide German answers to the challenges of the the east west conflict and the atomic threat? Or did under the conditions of block building clash two different develoment lines which superseded the specific German German commonalities? In which issue area did the mixing ratio between delineation and entanglement change over time?2. How far did the two German states use their specific commonalities to enforce their lessons of the Nazi past and their common interest of survival in the atomic age vis-á-vis the two leading powers? How did the German German freedom of manoeuvre change in which issue area over the passage of time?As a comparative analysis in the areas of foreign and security policy of the Federal Republic and the GDR does constitute a desiderat, the research project aimes at opening up the still unexplored areas of the German post war history.The period under investigation from May 1955 when both German states with their membership in NATO and the Warsaw Treaty Organization regained their partial sovereignty to German unification on 3 Octorber 1990 can be divided into four phases:Germany as cause of conflict and area of competition in a changing power and interest constellation between the United States and the Soviet Union 1955-1968,the rapprochement between East and West on the basis of the existing situation 1969-1979,the relapse into a new cold war 1979-1984,the great transition in East West relations in the wake of Gorbatchov's reform policy 1985-1990.The three issues in the areas of foreign and secuity policy are:critical developments and events in the age of the East-West conflict,security challenges in the age of nuclear detererrence and the policy areas of disarmament and arms control,the shaping of an all European security order.The contemporary comparison is essential for the projects methodical procedure. Alexander George's and Andrew Bennett's structured-focused comparison allows a systematic elaboration of the differences and communalities among the three issue areas. The focus of the comparative analysis is on the relevant government institutions of the Federal Republic and the GDR.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants