TY - JOUR
T1 - Emmanuel Macron’s challenge
T2 - ensuring proximate parity with Germany
AU - Giurlando, Philip
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Association for the Study of Modern & Contemporary France.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Standard accounts of the politics of the Eurozone often emphasize the importance of German leadership. But this assumes that Europe’s fate is in the hands of Berlin. Events in Paris matter equally, or more, because Germany cannot take on the leadership of Europe by itself. It is recognized in both countries that a fundamental condition for the proper functioning of the duopoly is proximate parity in the rapport de force. But four events have undermined equality between France and Germany: the latter’s unification, the distributional effects of the common currency, the eastward expansion of the EU, and the debt crisis of 2011–2012. Emmanuel Macron’s challenge is to reverse France’s déclassement and restore it to a position of proximate equality with Germany. If he fails, the asymmetry between Germany and France will increase, and the resulting skewed power structure will undermine the chances of needed reform initiatives.
AB - Standard accounts of the politics of the Eurozone often emphasize the importance of German leadership. But this assumes that Europe’s fate is in the hands of Berlin. Events in Paris matter equally, or more, because Germany cannot take on the leadership of Europe by itself. It is recognized in both countries that a fundamental condition for the proper functioning of the duopoly is proximate parity in the rapport de force. But four events have undermined equality between France and Germany: the latter’s unification, the distributional effects of the common currency, the eastward expansion of the EU, and the debt crisis of 2011–2012. Emmanuel Macron’s challenge is to reverse France’s déclassement and restore it to a position of proximate equality with Germany. If he fails, the asymmetry between Germany and France will increase, and the resulting skewed power structure will undermine the chances of needed reform initiatives.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85105968223&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09639489.2020.1849080
DO - 10.1080/09639489.2020.1849080
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85105968223
SN - 0963-9489
VL - 29
SP - 57
EP - 74
JO - Modern and Contemporary France
JF - Modern and Contemporary France
IS - 1
ER -