The German Predicament

This well-written book deals with the largest and most economically powerful EU Member State in Europe, Germany. The focus of the study is Germany's relationships with the other European neighbours. But is does so in an unusual and interesting way, and I think the authors did an excellent job in this; they looked in neighbouring European countries at public attitudes toward ,and ideas about, Germany; the cultural genome, if you will, of small and larger countries in Europe and their perception of a country that dominated modern European history.It makes very interesting reading on how, say, the Danes or Finns or French think of Germany. I do not know how correct this is but if i take the chapter dealing with the Netherlands and Dutch ideas of Germany, then as a Dutchman I can say I found their analyis of Dutch attitutes toward Germany almost embarrassingly spot-on. I also much liked the discussion of attitudes and ideas in Germany itself toward itself and its role in Europe. They argue that Germany has an economic and political responsibility that comes with the sheer economic size of the country within the European Union (and wider Europe). Germany, and with it the rest of Europe, can like it or not but the responsibility cannot be denied, it can only be shirked. If an elephant moves it will affect all that is around it. I think the point is well made and well taken. The authors argue rightly that for Germany, and for an integrating Europe and the crucial role that Germany plays in this, it is necessary that the realization that economic size brings political responsibility is actively accepted and managed. Where will the elephant decide to go, in discussion with the animals around it, rather than taking the path and trails it makes as an unintended and perhaps undesired effect of where it lumbers. And elephant trying to make itself small (for very understandable reasons) is not going to be very constructive. This more active attitude seems indeed to be taken up in Germany to some extent, and viewed with equal parts of uneasyness and approval by other European countries. It strikes me that much a similar analysis could be made of Japan and its neighbours, and it would be equally fascinating to read about that as well. Here one could argue that at least Germany has traveled the road of acknowledging the past while preparing for the future much further than Japan. In any case, I can recommend this book for anybody interested in the multifacted and interesting relationship of a key country in the EU with the rest of Europe.