Summary
Amit Das Gupta
Afrika en Azië in de Duitse buitenlandse politiek : hulp of handel en vitale belangen
Amit Das Gupta deals with Germany's relations with the Third World. Since the 1950's the Federal Republic has been working on an excellent image in the developing world. After unification Germany's allies expected it to play a bigger role in world politics. But neither the Kohl nor the Schröder governments have invested much to improve their position outside of Europe. Most of Africa has never been worthwhile in German perspectives and that will remain so, although there is a growing awareness in German politics that the problems of the African continent may spill over to Europe. The Middle East with its oil reserves and its violent conflicts breeding terrorism remains a hot spot for Berlin, as it is for its European partners, but the present constellation in the Middle East does not allow for any initiatives. Hence Germany is concentrating on Asia, where it expects the markets and some political heavyweights of the future. With the risky military engagement in Afghanistan Berlin has opted to invest heavily into nation-building at the heart of the continent.