PRZEZ INTEGRACJĘ DO HEGEMONII. W SPRAWIE POZYCJI REPUBLIKI FEDERALNEJ NIEMIEC W UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ I NATO. FAKTY, PROBLEMY, PERSPEKTYWY, PYTANIA

Based on Germany's present specific position in the world economy this article deals with certain aspects of the Federal Republic's economic, political an military standing in the European Union and NATO. Germany's altered status will be explicated in three historic problem areas. First: An analysis of all the modifications of the balance of power in Europe resulting from the GDR's Anschluß to the FGR an from the abolition of every political and military restrictions which had been imposed upon imperialistic Germany after its defeat in World War II. Second: An analysis of Germany's policies leading to the break-up of Yugoslavia and the wars between its successors states. The FGR pursued these policies initially on its own, later on in alliance with the USA against those of France and Great Britain. Third: An analysis of the political and export oriented interests of Germany and France versus those of the USA during the second aggressive war the USA waged on Iraq in 2003. The export structure, economic interests and corresponding political positions of the FGR and the USA will be continuously compared in all of the three areas. Inconsistencies resulting from both cooperation and competition between the two states will be presented. In view of the FRG's status in the EU, the differences in monetary policies concerning the introduction of the EURO, the political division inside the EU in respect to the relations between the EU member states and the USA, the function that the EU's eastern expansion has for Germany will be analyzed as well as the difficulties – provoked by US obstruction – for establishing EU armed forces which have been announced again and again. Germany's specific military policies will also be discussed. Concluding the article it will be distinguished between various potential options of Germany's policies supporting its hegemony aspirations which – however strongly they are in conflict with each other – are being pursued or kept in reserve simultaneously, though with variable weight.