Willy Brandt: A Strategy of Goals
Abstract
Europe after World War II was badly in need of great men. It was politically and militarily divided, economically ruined, and frequently on the brink of superpower confrontation. An important actor on this stage was Willy Brandt. First as Mayor of Berlin during the construction of the Wall, and later as Foreign Minister and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, he was the key to the stabilization of this precarious situation. As the author studied Brandt's political career, it became apparent to him that Brandt's genius was not in his development of his grand strategy, but rather in his modification of existing national goals. The author will show in this paper that the goal of reunification, strongly supported by most Germans, was in direct conflict with the overriding interest of European (and world) peace. With that realization, Brandt pursued his goals of understanding and cooperation with other European nations while convincing his countrymen that a unified Germany would have to wait. Therefore, his success was not made possible by his strategy of "Ostpolitic," but rather his efforts to convince his countrymen to modify their emotionally held short-term goals. From this shifting of national priorities, his strategy naturally evolved. The author begins with a brief discussion of the context of Germany in the 1960's, as well as the international context of a divided Germany in the shadow of the superpowers. He discusses how Brandt saw Germany as the symbol of the division of the world in a bipolar struggle. Finally, he describes the conflict between Germany's goals and her long-term national interests, and how that led to the process of compromise that became "Ostpolitic."
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 08, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA436951
Entities
People
- Tim Kinnan
Organizations
- National War College