Germany’s Role in European Russia Policy

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xix

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2. Introduction

   • Liana Fix

   Pages 1-31

3. The Russian-Georgian War 2008: Germany as a Junior Partner

   • Liana Fix

   Pages 33-65

4. The EU-Russia Partnership for Modernisation 2010: Germany as Agenda-Setter

   • Liana Fix

   Pages 67-90

5. The Meseberg Initiative 2010: Germany as a Deal-Maker

   • Liana Fix

   Pages 91-118

6. The Russia-Ukraine Conflict 2014: Germany as a Leading Power

   • Liana Fix

   Pages 119-156

7. Conclusion

   • Liana Fix

   Pages 157-176

8. Back Matter

   Pages 177-227

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This book contributes to the debate about a new German power in Europe with an analysis of Germany’s role in European Russia policy. It provides an up-to-date account of Germany’s “Ostpolitik” and how Germany has influenced EU-Russia relations since the Eastern enlargement in 2004 - partly along, partly against the interests and preferences of new member states. The volume combines a rich empirical analysis of Russia policy with a theory-based perspective on Germany’s power and influence in the EU. The findings demonstrate that despite Germany’s central role, exercising power within the EU is dependent on legitimacy and acceptance by other member states.

• German Politics
• Germany
• European Union
• Influence
• Power
• EU-Russia Relations
• Foreign Policy
• EU-Russia Policy
• German Hegemony in Europe
• Russian-Georgian War
• Ostpolitik
• Ukraine Conflict
• EU's Eastern Enlargement
• Meseberg Initiative

“Germany’s Role in European Russia Policy—A New German Power? provides an innovative framework for analysing how EU-Russia relations might develop well into the twenty-first century.”

--- Professor Angela Stent, Director, Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, Georgetown University

“With her sophisticated, well-researched and astute assessment of Germany‘s influence on European policies towards Russia, Liana Fix effectively debunks many of the myths about Germany‘s alleged „hegemony“ in Europe. Essential reading for anyone interested in Germany in Europe.”

--- Professor Hanns W. Maull, Senior Distinguished Fellow, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)

“Liana Fix analyses how Germany has shaped the European Union’s Russia policy over the past decade and a half. This period was characterised not only by increasing tensions between Moscow and Brussels, but also by Germany’s changing role within the EU. Liana Fix combines the two levels of analysis and delivers a very granulated picture of the possibilities and constraints Berlin faces in its attempts to pursue its interests and form political approaches at the EU level. Her concept of “policy dominance” (as opposed to hegemony) brilliantly captures the limits of German power, which in Germany is always weighed against responsibility and legitimacy. This book is highly recommended to anyone who wishes to understand how EU foreign policy emerges from the complex interaction between member states and EU institutions. I particularly hope it will find many readers in Russia, where experts and policy makers alike tend to frame Germany’s changing role and policy in terms of traditional great power politics.”

--- Dr. Sabine Fischer, Team Leader, Public Diplomacy. EU and Russia project, Moscow

• Gießener Dissertation im Fachbereich Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

  Liana Fix

Liana Fix is a historian and political scientist. In her work, she focuses on German foreign policy, Russia and Eastern Europe as well as European security and has published widely in academia, think tanks and national and international media. She completed a doctorate degree at the Justus Liebig University Giessen and a Master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

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