Christian Wenkel – författare

In the aftermath of the Second World War and for much of the Cold War, one of the most important issues facing European leaders was what diplomatic posture to take toward the successor states of Nazi Germany. This was perhaps felt no more keenly than in France, which had directly experienced German aggression yet sought to establish productive relations with both Germanys. Drawing on the most recent historiography and previously untapped archival sources, the contributions to this volume show how France's German policy was, for the duration of the Cold War, both more constructive and consequential than has previously been acknowledged by policy makers and scholars.

In the immediate aftermath of World War Two, the victors were unable to agree on Germany’s fate, and the separation of the country—the result of the nascent Cold War—emerged as a de facto, if provisional, settlement. Yet East and West Germany would exist apart for half a century, making the "German question" a central foreign policy issue—and given the war-torn history between the two countries, this was felt no more keenly than in France. Drawing on the most recent historiography and previously untapped archival sources, this volume shows how France’s approach to the German question was, for the duration of the Cold War, both more constructive and consequential than has been previously acknowledged.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVESince the 1970s, environmental issues have become a major concern for European citizens and thus for European politicians. In the same time frame the political sphere in Europe, and in particular within the European Union, has also been undergoing major transformations. Dealing with environmental issues over more than fifty years in a historical perspective enables us to gain a better understanding of these transformations, notably the emergence of a European public sphere and how this is changing decision-making processes. Drawing on recent research results from various disciplines, including history, sociology, law and political sciences, this volume addresses the methodological challenge of a European perspective on a transnational subject - one that is commonly distorted by a national prism. It shows how perceptions of the environment are increasingly converging and how these convergences of views across political or linguistic borders in the long run exert an undeniable influence not only on political debates but also on political decisions across Europe.Revealing European characteristics of perceptions, debates and policies, this volume contributes to a history of Europeanisation beyond the usual political turning points and limits.