Opinion piece
Why Germany fell out of love with Europe
This essay analyses the central role that Germany has and continues to play in the European Union. The author looks back at how Germany acted as a benevolent hegemon through the adoption of the single currency and the creation of the European Monetary Union. Against this background, he examines the German response to the recent euro crisis, in particular the crucial weekend of May 8-9 2010. He asks if Germany is still willing to be the benevolent hegemon and save the euro from disintegration, or are the domestic implications of this role moving her away from Europe.