Discussion: While reconciliation between Germany and France has long since become a political given in both countries, it is regarded around the world as an example of exceptional success.
Please note: the event has been postponed to June 12. While reconciliation between Germany and France has long since become a political given in both countries, it is regarded around the world as an example of exceptional success. The fact that former “hereditary enemies” became close partners after centuries of armed conflict, thereby making a decisive contribution to European integration, continues to fascinate people today. This book examines how Franco-German rapprochement is perceived in different regions of the world and how it is connected to each region’s own experiences of conflict. It focuses primarily on the question of the extent to which certain elements of this historical process, taking into account geopolitical contexts, external actors, power asymmetries, and civil society dynamics, can serve as a source of inspiration without being mistakenly treated as a transferable model. In comparative case studies, experts from fifteen countries analyze different conflict situations in light of the Franco-German experience. The aim is to explore the potential and limits of its applicability while critically reflecting on the myth of reconciliation. This book is therefore not intended as a guide to “exporting” a model, but as a nuanced analysis of a historical process whose symbolic resonance extends far beyond Europe’s borders. It contributes to international conflict research and to the current debate on the role of Franco-German cooperation in Europe, particularly in light of the new momentum generated by the 2019 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. (The book will be published in 2026 in German by Springer-Verlag and in French by Septentrion (Lille), with the support of the OFAJ and the Federal Foreign Office, under the direction of Nicole Colin and Claire Demesmay.) Evening organized as part of the international conference Die Kunst der Versöhnung – Kulturelle Strategien in politischen Konflikten, taking place at the MHH from June 11 to 12, 2026.
Price: Free admission | Registration recommended
Source: paris.fr — photo: © DR