ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies conceptual and security policy trends in France and Germany and discusses their implications for the European and Atlantic alliances. The end of the Cold War and German unification has radically changed the geopolitical environment in which French and German security policies are made. When the Cold War ended in 1989 and German unification took place in 1990, it was at least plausible that France would abandon its traditional reticence toward cooperation with NATO and the United States and adopt a more Atlanticist approach. For each German commitment to NATO, for example, Germany has taken commensurate steps to satisfy France. France clearly remains committed to its traditional pursuit of a global security role. Germany's attitude toward and role in security beyond Western Europe has been changing since unification. The German government's expressed desire to play a greater international role seems increasingly to be supported by German public opinion.
