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Europe
November 2009 
In a German Comfort Zone?
Posted on Jan 6th, 2009
by 
Albert
Albert
Once again international press-like SPIEGEL ONLINE before too - is ciriticizing lack of German Leadership.
See also Joschkas Fischers Pre Christmas sermon in German FAZ here:
Germany Is Failing As A leading Europen Power?
And:
Leadership , Crisis Mangemernt, perspectives in Germany and Europe
Diagnosis quite sufficient. Cause and effect consideration insufficient and reflecting lack of in depth understanding of German mentality.
In a German Comfort Zones, going nowhwere fast
By John Vinocur
Monday, January 5, 2009
One of Europe's interesting newspapers made a list last week of events in 2009 it said would impact on its readers' lives. Germany's national election on Sept. 27 wasn't among them.
The omission can't come as a total shock.
The vote itself - essentially a rerun of the internal debate between the fairly immobile and complicit governing coalition partners of the last three years - promises mostly motion rather than real movement in what usually gets described as Europe's most important country.
But there is something more striking: in its response to recession and a series of global confrontations, Germany is giving the impression it's comfortable with a diminished hand on European and global leadership
Claiming preeminence means taking clear positions, accepting potentially uncomfortable responsibilities, getting ahead of events, and being willing to champion points of view that can be both a guide for the European Union's membership and a statement to the world on where Europe stands.
All of which is more assertiveness, it seems, than Angela Merkel thinks is safe to muster while facing, as a front-runner, a famously risk-and-change adverse electorate.
Read more..
See also Joschkas Fischers Pre Christmas sermon in German FAZ here:
Germany Is Failing As A leading Europen Power?
And:
Leadership , Crisis Mangemernt, perspectives in Germany and Europe
Diagnosis quite sufficient. Cause and effect consideration insufficient and reflecting lack of in depth understanding of German mentality.
In a German Comfort Zones, going nowhwere fast
By John Vinocur
Monday, January 5, 2009
One of Europe's interesting newspapers made a list last week of events in 2009 it said would impact on its readers' lives. Germany's national election on Sept. 27 wasn't among them.
The omission can't come as a total shock.
The vote itself - essentially a rerun of the internal debate between the fairly immobile and complicit governing coalition partners of the last three years - promises mostly motion rather than real movement in what usually gets described as Europe's most important country.
But there is something more striking: in its response to recession and a series of global confrontations, Germany is giving the impression it's comfortable with a diminished hand on European and global leadership
Claiming preeminence means taking clear positions, accepting potentially uncomfortable responsibilities, getting ahead of events, and being willing to champion points of view that can be both a guide for the European Union's membership and a statement to the world on where Europe stands.
All of which is more assertiveness, it seems, than Angela Merkel thinks is safe to muster while facing, as a front-runner, a famously risk-and-change adverse electorate.
Read more..
Access: Public
