Culture of restraint" vs "change of epochs": transformation of German security and defence policy

Abstract

The study addresses the patterns, that determine German security and defence policy and its further evolution into the current state. The paper identifies the changes in German approaches to security maintenance on both domestic and foreign political levels. Special attention is paid to the shift from territorial defence to active role of Germany on international security landscape, where Germany undertakes measures to prevent and solve crises and conflicts. We consider aspects that shape German integration into political and military alliances, e.g., EU Common Security and Defence Policy and NATO. German security and defence policy faces multiple challenges, which predominantly deal with scarce financing, inaccurate estimation of defence priorities, etc. It is found out that even with the already existing historically formulated antimilitaristic attitudes, current situation on international landscape requires from Germany a reorientation of its security and defence policy to rational and pragmatic estimation of security risks, dangers and threats, which will result in corresponding security policy. These tendencies do not evidence for German remilitarization. Instead, they demonstrate that security and defence policy can no more fall behind current political, economic or social concerns.