The Franco-German Rivalry in the Post-Brexit European Union
Abstract
A significant foundation of European stability after World War II has been the balance of power between the United
Kingdom (UK), France, and Germany. The UK’s accession to the European Communities (EC) in 1973 had
carried that ‘balance’ into the EC’s institutional framework. In this regard, the UK’s withdrawal from EU structures
may lead to an important political and financial vacuum at the center of the Union. In the wake of Brexit, indications
of anxiety and concerns about power imbalances have emerged around the question of which country or counties
will steer the Union. There exit fresh post-Brexit assessments that indicate that the UK’s departure from the EU
may catalyze the differences between Germany and France. This paper will discuss three essential scenarios for the
EU’s political and economic future direction, namely, French leadership, German leadership, and a Franco-German
partnership, for the post-Brexit period.
Keywords
References
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