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Circumstantial Pacifism: Political Parties and the Participation of the Bundeswehr in Foreign Operations

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In Germany's parliamentary democracy, political parties play an important role in mandating Bundeswehr missions abroad and in overseeing their deployment. The political debate on these deployments is polarized between opponents, who are called “pacifists”, and supporters, who are called “militarists”.

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German forces near Camp Marmal during a patrol outside of Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan November 2009
German forces near Camp Marmal during a patrol outside of Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan November 2009
ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office from Kabul Wikicommons/Bundeswehr Dingo outside of Mazar-e-Sharif
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There are many reasons, including historical ones, for Germany’s unease about military deployments abroad. But the issue of “pacifism” is often a catalyst that prevents the parties from having a calm discussion on the question of military interventions and leads them to be very cautious on this issue. However, party attitudes toward military intervention is likely to play an increasingly important role in the debate. In the run-up to the September 2021 federal election and in the face of an increasingly fragmented political landscape that may lead to the formation of a three-party coalition, this issue may prove crucial because of the political differences between the parties.

Moreover, in the current transatlantic and European context, this issue has become a marker by which Germany’s credibility on the international stage and vis-à-vis its partners in the Atlantic Alliance will be determined. Indeed, this German reticence is less and less accepted and understood, and military interventions are one of the key issues on which a candidate must take a stand in order to appear a credible contender for the chancellorship. Many parties are shifting their positions and debating future federal military deployments. These divisive issues within the parties could influence the choice of the future coalition.

 

Paul Maurice is a Research Fellow at the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) at the French Institute of International Relations - Ifri, where he specifically works on issues of German domestic policy and Franco-German relations in the context of European integration.

 

This publication is available in French: "Un pacifisme à géométrie variable : les partis allemands et la participation de la Bundeswehr à des opérations extérieures" (pdf).

 

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979-10-373-0342-4

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Paul MAURICE

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The Pariser Platz (Paris Square) on the east side of the Brandenburg Gate at Berlin, Germany
The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa)
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The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.

 

Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.

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German forces near Camp Marmal during a patrol outside of Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan November 2009
ISAF Headquarters Public Affairs Office from Kabul Wikicommons/Bundeswehr Dingo outside of Mazar-e-Sharif

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