Arab Spring in Berlin and Paris: German and French Foreign Policy Between Continuity and Change

The Arab Spring has not only affected the well-established structures in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) but became also a touchstone for the German and French foreign policy. A lasting three-year transformation process turned out to be an unpredictable factor for the traditional German and French foreign policy principles within a novel geopolitical environment. In this respect, this study deals with the comparative foreign policy analysis of Germany and France with regard to the transformations in the MENA since 2011. Analaysis is done on the basis of constructivist role theory in connection with the Civilian Power concept. Major interest of this study is dedicated to the analysis of the foreign policy repertoire and identity of Germany and France towards the transition countries in North Africa. A question is to be answered if the challenges provoke continuity or change.