Call for paper
The 50th Anniversary of the Elysée Treaty: The Franco-German Alliance and European Integration, Engine or Directorate?
The scientific quarterly journal L’Europe en formation invites would-be contributors to submit papers for consideration in a forthcoming thematic issue on “the 50th Anniversary of the Elysée Treaty: The Franco-German Alliance and European Integration, Engine or Directorate?”, to be published in Winter 2012.
50 years ago, French President Charles de Gaulle and German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer concluded the Elysée Treaty on Franco-German friendship. The treaty can be considered as the beginning of a unique partnership between two major Western democracies, who have played since then a seminal role in the process of European integration: The exclusiveness of the French-German alliance has, on one hand, created a strong potential for political leadership. However, on the other hand, it has also given reason for distrust on the part of the other member states.
L’Europe en formation devotes, on the occasion of the Elysée treaty’s anniversary, a special issue to Franco-German relations, in order to take stock of their historic significance and current challenges. The opening of archives in both countries makes it possible to shed new light on crucial periods of the couple´s history, like the “empty chair crisis”, the emergence of the European Monetary System, the international context of German reunification, and the genesis of the Maastricht treaty. In the recent years, the Franco-German alliance has been increasingly questioned, either internally by actors who challenge its preferential character, or externally by European countries who fear a “directorate” by the two leading countries of the continent. Also, the balance of power between the partners on both sides of the Rhine has changed dramatically since German reunification, when the country began to assume a more assertive role in the international arena. In the same way, as uncertainty characterizes the European integration process in the current crisis, it also shapes the Franco-German alliance fifty years after its inception.
For its special issue, L’Europe en formation welcomes proposals for articles on all aspects of Franco-German relations within the context of European integration. Submissions may address the following topics:
- The Elysée treaty: Start of a new era or symbolic event without long-term repercussions?
- Franco-German relations as a two-level-game: The interconnectedness of domestic and foreign policies
- Successes and failures of Franco-German leadership
- The Franco-German couple perceived by third actors
- France and Germany in the European Institutions
- Society and economy: From competition to convergence?
- The symbolism of political friendship
Contributions are accepted from researchers and practitioners from all fields of social sciences, and can be written in English or French. Interdisciplinary contributions are encouraged, as well as theoretical, conceptual and methodological approaches. Proposals (in English or French) should be submitted by 15 July 2012, to the chief editor, Matthias Waechter and the co-ordinator of the thematic issue, Frédéric Lepine.
It should include the title of the proposed article, a brief presentation (500 words), and the CV of the author separately. Proposals will be submitted to the members of an Advisory Board. Once the proposal is accepted, the article should be submitted before 15 October 2012. Once received, each article will be submitted to a blind peer-review procedure. It will be published in the Winter 2012 issue (expected month of publication: December). The papers, of 5.000 to 10.000 words in length (including footnotes and excluding bibliography), may be written in English or French. An abstract of 150 words should be added to the article (with a translation in the other language if possible), as well as a brief presentation of the author (100 words).