Since the days of Adenauer sixty years ago, the entente on all essential questions between France and Germany has been at the core of the European Union. Now, writes Josef Joffe, the editor of die Zeit (April 1), for the first time they have gone their separate ways. On Libya, France has chosen hectic interventionism and Germany cool neutralism. On nuclear power after Fukushima, France remains devoted to nuclear power (58 plants, 70% of energy production) while Germany has declared her intention to do entirely without it.
Ostensibly, at first glance the explanation in the Libyan case was found in both countries’ internal party-political considerations. Both governments were facing elections. Sarkozy and Merkel thought their positions would help them. They did not. Sarkozy lost in his approval rating and Merkel’s party was defeated in crucial Baden-Württemberg.
But that was not the real reason, anyway.
On atomic power, Josef Joffe writes, France’s approach to the economy and to growth is rooted in the belief that man must be the master of nature. Man must not put his trust in the sun and the wind. In foreign policy, France offers the world Europe Plus, a collective mecca with teeth. This Europe, the richest combination of powers on earth, must be a strategic actor, together with America if possible, without America, if necessary.
Germany differs. France, Germany believes, represents the modern national state: strong in its interior and exterior policies, dynamic growth within and daring gestures abroad. Germans think of their state as on the verge of a post-modern world, on the threshold of a new post-heroic and post-industrial future. Today, wind power amounts to only 6.2% and solar power to only 2%, but Germany wishes to lead the world towards a gentle new era. In the arena of foreign policy, the giant Germany wishes to be a small player, to be left alone to cultivate her garden.
In the case of Libya, Germany, for the first time in her history, has abandoned all her allies. One can almost hear Bismarck revolving in his grave. This exceptionalism her neighbours will find as hard to accept as Germany’s going alone in nuclear matters, especially since the demand for efficient energy is constantly growing.
Is Germany really determined – Josef Joffe asks – to abandon all raisons d’état?
Eric Koch’s book, The Weimar Triangle, is available at Indigo-Chapters and in your local bookstore. 
Vive la difference, maybe but at least the historic enmity between them seems to be in abeyance. By the way there was an interesting review in Sunday’s New York Times Book Review of a new biography of Bismarck by an interesting reviewer.
I saw that great review by a highly qualified reviewer.