德国在寻找世界中的位置

Germany Seeks Its Status in the World

统一前的联邦德国受到战败国地位的约束,常为它那“经济巨人、政治侏儒”的处境而烦恼。1990年,德国实现了统一,作为欧洲的首富之国和世界上的第三经济大国,渴望在欧洲和世界上“承担更大的国际责任”,“发挥更大的作用”。然而,一个国家在国际上想扮演一个什么角色,必须得到国际大家庭的认可,这需要在实践中去探求。从这个意义上说,“统一的德国在冷战后的世界上的地位和责任还有待确定。”

The unifled Germany yearns to change its situation of 'an economic giant but a political dwarf' and to take 'bigger commitments' in the world. Tt is seeking for a leading position in Europe. For such a purpose, its guideline of action is to have a foothold in Western Europe, actively move eastward and as a main role, take part in the shaping of a new European order striving to be dominant therein. However, in terms of comprehensive power, Germany has superiority both in its powerful economy and favorable geopolitics, but it is relatively weak militarily and lacks political prestige so it is not easy for Germany to gain a leading status in Europe. All of the European countries hope to keep Germany within the framework of the European Community and the Western alliance in a bid to let it play an active role as an equal partner in maintaining balance of power in Europe. But Germany has found it difficult to play such a role because it happens that it has no sufficient powers to become a hegemon in Europe, while it has more strength than to maintain balance of power in Europe. It has become a tough problem in European politics as how to find a proper position for Germany. Germany wishes to play a big-power role in world politics, but has found few approaches. It wants to become a member of the Security Council of the United Nations, but it is difficult to revise the United Nations' Charter and harm the interests of other major powers. The difficulty lies as well in changing its own constitutions as it wants to participate in the military moves of the United Nations. It desires to pursue a 'humman rights' foreign policy so as to play a big part in the world, but hasn't achieved anticipated results. So far it feels hard to find a desirable position in the world.