Description
Wandel Durch Handel has featured as a key philosophy in German foreign policy since the late 1960’s. Following this policy has resulted in Germany forging close economic ties and dependencies on autocratic states such as Russia and China; creating massive economic growth but also consternation from human rights and democracy activists. Despite wide and varied criticism of the policy, problems arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the rise of China, and a ‘Zeitenwende’, Berlin elites still seem unwilling to definitely change course and abandon Wandel Durch Handel. The staying power of this outlook has also had influence on the EU’s policy, especially towards China. This paper analyses the pervasive ideational power of Wandel Durch Handel in German policy in relation to China, utilising discursive institutionalism to understand actors sustaining the the policy, and from there examining its effects on EU policy. The effects of Wandel Durch Handel are then applied to the framework of de-Europeanisation, creating an understanding of whether this policy, utilised in the contemporary political climate, constitutes a break away from EU values; favouring economic gains for Germany at the expense of European solidarity.
