Entscheidungsträger in der deutschen Außenpolitik

Chancellors and foreign ministers have had a formative influence on German foreign policy. Adenauer’s ‘policy of Western integration’ or Brandt’s ‘new Eastern policy’ are cases in point. This volume discusses which leadership traits and political beliefs have guided the actions of German decision makers from 1949 until today. For that purpose, we employ analytical schemes through which the individual characteristics and idiosyncrasies of German decision makers can be identified based on automated coding. Empirical studies, for instance on the consequences of ‘external shocks’ or war experiences on the traits and beliefs of German foreign policy decision makers, illustrate the added value of this actor-specific approach to German foreign policy.