Changing Dynamics of European Geopolitics: A Case of Russia-Germany Relations 1890-2016

The dissertation argues that European geopolitics essentially becomes the study of the long-term effects of political change on the continent, encompassing periods of war, division, stability, and enlargement. Taken together these become the different phases of geopolitical change in Europe against which relations between Russia and Germany are analysed. By analysing the available literature on political shifts in Europe, the thesis identified three different phases of geopolitical change which are categorized by a certain type of prevailing geopolitical order and the dominant geopolitical discourse. In the first phase geopolitics was understood in its naturalised form marked by the inter-imperialist rivalry between major powers in Europe. This period of a zero-sum game between major powers in Europe lasted from the late 1880s till the end of World War II. The subsequent changes in the balance of power led to the second phase of geopolitical change characterised by the bipolar competition between the two superpowers, i.e., the United States and the Soviet Union. Geopolitics in this phase became ideological, exemplified by the central systemic-ideological conflict over the political-economic organisation of Europe. The end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet Union led to the third phase of geopolitical change marked by the inclusive/enlargement nature of geopolitics which saw the EU use its normative power to expand its geographical and institutional reach to include countries of southern, central, and eastern Europe. This phase of geopolitical change is still ongoing, the ramifications of which can be seen in the current Russia-Ukraine conflict. It is against these different phases of geopolitical changes that Russia-Germany relations were analysed. While surveying the available literature the research identified a gap in terms of how geopolitical changes influence relations between countries. To fulfil that gap, Russia-Germany relations were taken as the case study for analyses. The reason for assessing their relationship was twofold. First, from the point of view of East-West security, Russia and Germany continue to play an important role. Second, both countries had undergone tremendous changes in their nature/ structure and their subsequent positions in Europe. The research analysed changes in Russia-Germany relationship in the form of relationship trends which corresponded to the wider changes taking place in the geopolitical landscape of Europe. In total, the research identified six relationship trends showcasing variations in engagement between the two countries. The research also found that with each major phase of geopolitical change, Russia and Germany found themselves in unique/different positions. For instance, the defeat of the Nazi Germany in World War II led to the emergence of the Soviet Union as one of the two superpowers. On the other hand, the (re) unification of Germany in 1990 marked the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Post-Cold War, Germany found itself reunified in an integrative Europe, in which it emerged as the strongest economic power, while Russia adopted the position of a geopolitical challenger to Europe. The analysis found out that the interaction between the two countries was determined as much as by the desire to pursue national interest as by the changing geopolitical environment in which they found themselves. For investigation and analysis, the research made use of qualitative content analysis along with compare and contrast methodology. This methodology enabled comparing changes in European geopolitics which changes in Russia-Germany relations. Therefore the dissertation, argues that European geopolitics is dynamic in nature and that changes in European geopolitics have influenced how Russia and Germany interact with one another often demonstrated by periods of cooperation and confrontation.