Introduction seesion on 02.09.2024, 13:00h via ZOOM: https://lmu-munich.zoom-x.de/j/63451273874?pwd=sGsFigjbRCq8YZemgJ0BPnJ0gdvq21.1

France and Germany are at the heart of Europe – not just geographically and for their demographic and economic size, but also politically. With respect to European Union (EU) politics, scholars and observers have long argued that “nothing goes without, nothing goes against France and Germany”. Indeed, these two countries were the key drivers for the European integration process post-Second World War and have critically shaped EU politics ever since then.

This seminar analyzes Franco-German “embedded bilateralism” in the multi-level and multi-faceted system of the European Union. We will scrutinize the role and impact of France and Germany across different EU policy areas. Our empirical cases cover instances of successful Franco-German leadership, such as the creation of the EU Covid recovery plan, as well as of failure, like the EU’s responses to the recent energy crisis or Russia’s war against Ukraine.

At the same time, the seminar takes a broader focus, both theoretically and empirically. Looking at bi- and minilateral relations between states in international politics more generally, and discussing historical and more recent examples of bi- and minilateral relations, will allow us to put the Franco-German embedded bilateralism into perspective. The seminar will thus be of interest to students of international relations, comparative politics, and European studies alike.

Key readings

Krotz, Ulrich, and Joachim Schild (2013). Shaping Europe: France, Germany, and Embedded Bilateralism from the Elysée Treaty to Twenty-First Century Politics. Oxford University Press.