Comment on “Merkelism vs. Trumpism” by Jochen Bittner SEPT. 22, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/merkel-trump-free-world.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fopinion&action=click&contentCollection=opinion®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=sectionfront
I read Mr. Bittner’s columns both in the NYT and in Die Zeit. Although I find his opinions at time a bit hysterical, he certainly has a good grasp of modern German politics.
Where I agree with Mr Bittner in this column is that Trumpism has not only embarrassed the US in the eyes of most of the “Western World”, and had signaled that the US has given up its leadership role, certainly diplomatically and morally, of the liberal democratic world order in favor of nationalism and protectionism. Where I disagree with Mr. Bittner is in his assessment, that Angela Merkel is actively seeking to replace Trump as leader of the “western world order”, for the purpose of her “legacy”, this in all likelihood being her last term as German Chancellor.
My reading of Angela Merkel is that she is much too pragmatic and unassuming (which is different from unambitious, for certainly she is and has always been very ambitious) to seek that kind of high-profile international prominence. Add to that the still very prevalent pacifist and anti-world-leadership instincts in her (and my) post-war German generation (as well as her upbringing as the daughter of a Lutheran pastor), and the result you have is a German leader very reluctantly acknowledging the leadership responsibilities thrust upon her by Germany’s economic dominance in Europe and the world. Her very careful statement about Europe not being able to rely on the US for leadership after her disastrous initial meeting with Trump illustrates, I think, this reluctance in assuming a more prominent role.
If we are looking for a European leader much more eager to assume a leading role against the nationalist and isolationist policies of Trumpism, France’s Macron is, I think, willing and eager to assume that role. It fits perfectly with his grandiose entry into his role as French President, and his stated ambition to increase France’s role in world politics, which is of course in line with France’s vision of itself as “la Grande Nation”. This is not a criticism of France or Macron; it seems to me that Macron is seeking to enhance French pride primarily as a means to help him rouse France from its economic doldrums, and helping him push through the necessary internal reforms he sees ac vital.
By contrast, I believe, Angela Merkel sees her “legacy” primarily in ushering Germany through its very difficult task of dealing with the flood of refugees by successfully integrating them into German society, and thus demonstrating, that she did not act irresponsibly when she opened Germanys borders to them.
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