This course offers an examination of Germany’s and France’s external relations and foreign policies in the EU and the World. Students will explore the key determinants, actors (state and non-state), and processes that shape the international roles of both countries, with special attention to recent history and contemporary events.

The course will investigate the interplay between national politics and the shaping of foreign policy strategies: Through critical analysis, it highlights the structural factors, political systems, historical changes, and the influence of public opinion and interest groups in both states. By integrating knowledge on German and French society, students will deepen their understanding of each nation's culture, gain cultural awareness, and analyze how politics and international relations intersect in both the countries’ contexts.