This book examines external perceptions of the Franco-German relationship, both from a historical perspective and as a driving force for regional integration. By providing various country and regional studies, it analyses the various types of perception and self-perception in several regions around the globe. Here, Franco-German cooperation serves as a mirror in which third-party countries view their own situation, today and in the future. The contributions address the questions of if and how the Franco-German reconciliation and cooperation is perceived as a role model for other regions, especially for the reconciliation of other inter-state and international conflicts. A concluding chapter highlights the divergences and convergences between the respective conflicts, and proposes recommendations for actors involved in diplomacy and international relations. The book is intended to provide scientific support for the implementation of the Franco-German Aachen Treaty of January 2019. It will appeal to scholars in political science and cultural studies, and to anyone interested in learning more about the Franco-German relationship and on external perspectives on it.

Nicole Colin is a Professor at the Université Aix-Marseille in France and head of a Franco-German graduate college "Cultural Conflicts - Conflict Cultures", which brings together doctoral students and academics who deal with issues concerning Franco-German reconciliation in the European and global context. Claire Demesmay holds a PhD in Political Philosophy and has been head of the Franco-German Relations Program at DGAP since 2009. Her research primarily focuses on German-French relations and on the European policy of France and Germany.