Germany in Relation to Central Europe In the 18th-20th Centuries

An Outline

Keywords: Central Europe, Mitteleuropa, German political culture

Abstract

The article presents an outline of history of Germany’s approach towards the Central Europe since the eighteenth century. It is to be pointed out that this attitude from the very beginning (i. e. since the Enlightenment) was determined by two factors: primate of Realpolitik dictated by the egoistic policy of Prussia and since 1871 of the German Reich towards the Central Europe which led e.g. to „negative Polish policy“ and the German (Prussian) political culture which emphasized „cultural mission of the Germans“ in this region of Europe. This stance, as the article stresses, was articulated by German political and intellectual elites till the twentieth century. It is to be examined whether such an approach reamains an influential factor nowadays, as far as the German policy and the German political culture are concerned.

Published
2024-09-29
How to Cite
Kucharczyk, G. (2024). Germany in Relation to Central Europe In the 18th-20th Centuries: An Outline. The Ignatianum Philosophical Yearbook, 30(3), 329-346. https://doi.org/10.35765/rfi.2024.3003.18
Section
Articles