Internal Instability Will Challenge Franco-German Alliance

The impersonal forces of geography have given Franco-German ties a central role in Western European history since at least the Middle Ages. Most of Europe's political, economic and military developments can be understood through this bilateral relationship, which is conditioned by France and Germany's internal imperatives.

In modern Europe, the relationship between France and Germany lies at the core of the European Union. The two nations have a stake in EU survival and, because of this, remain dedicated to preserving their alliance. The stability of this alliance, however, is troubled by the political and economic crisis in France. And as this crisis deepens, it will become increasingly difficult for Paris and Berlin to maintain these ties. France is likely to face new waves of social unrest in the coming months, threatening the country's political stability.