Willy Brandt and Ostpolitik

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the grand strategy and statecraft of West German Chancellor Willy Brandt. More specifically, it is an analysis of Brandt's policy of Ostpolitik, which dominated the conduct of West German foreign affairs during Brandt's Chancellorship from 1969 to 1975. Broadly speaking, Ostpolitik is a term that has come to describe a policy that sought new openings to the East, a trend toward conciliation in Central Europe, and, above all for West Germany, a change in dealing with the issue of a divided Germany. More specifically, Brandt saw West Germany's interests as follows: (1) continued alliance with the West, (2) lessening of political tensions and confrontations in Central Europe, (3) economic expansion of trade with the East, and (4) reconciliation/reunification of the German people. The threats to these interests were many and came not only from foes, but friends alike. This essay attempts to answer the following question: how did the newly elected Social Democratic government of Willy Brandt arrive at this policy?

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA436974

Entities

People

  • Jim Stefan

Organizations

  • National War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Central Europe
  • Cold War
  • Diplomacy
  • East Germany
  • Europe
  • Germany
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • National Security
  • Negotiations
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • West Germany

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Educational Psychology
  • European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).