Two articles written with passion for this special section of the EJIA by two specialists (a french like Pierre Behar and a german as Jochen Thies), about the nation that is more and more becoming the pivot of the european continent: “The Discordant Nation” by Pierre Behar, and “On the Road Again, with Merkel”, by Jochen Thies.

The Discordant Nation
by Pierre Behar

The whole historical tragedy of the German nation stems from its being out of step with the other great nations of Western Europe and its temporal dislocation has arisen from basic uncertainty over the space it occupies. Geography first therefore. Germany is that vast stretch of land at the heart of Europe where throughout antiquity the German tribes which came down from Scandinavia spread out and thus became the “continental Germans”. […]

King and kingmaker

On the Road Again, with Merkel
by Jochen Thies

The result that seemed improbable on the eve of the German elections nevertheless came good in the end. From the 22 November 2005 the government of Germany has been in the hands of Angela Merkel, its first female Chancellor. Hardly any of the professional observers predicted her phenomenal rise from scientist in East Berlin when the Wall came down to head of a grand coalition government within 15 years. […]