Why was it possible to overcome the Franco-German relationship of "hereditary enemies" after 1945? And how to characterise the "new" Franco-German relations? Answering these questions in general terms would offer a model of a bilateral peace-order.

The volume establishes an analytical frame, building on elements of political leadership, civil society engagement, and institutional order that brings the former two together. Institutionalised cooperation turns out to be the central element of a model potentially interesting beyond the Franco-German context.

Academia and practitioners together investigate this claim in different sectors of cooperation. Further studies discuss the Polish-German and Czech-German relationship. This research adds a “constructive complement” to the insight that “nationalism means war”, as Erwin Teufel, former governor of Baden-Württemberg, points out in his foreword.

With contributions of:
Frank Baasner, Clémentine Chaigneau, Mateusz Fałkowski, Stephan Geifes, Annika Gerdon, Tomáš Jelínek, Eva-Sabine Kuntz, Carsten Lenk, Chantal Mairesse, Hélène Miard-Delacroix, Stefan Seidendorf, Erwin Teufel