The philosophy of ‘change through trade’ has been a long-standing principle of German foreign policy, allowing the country to trade with countries, even those governed by dictatorships, regardless of the impact on German security interests. This approach has been criticised for compromising Germany’s commitment to human rights and democracy, critical elements of peace and stability. Still, there are exceptions for Germany’s major trading partners, including Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia and China.
To address these concerns, we commissioned a study to assess the German public’s perception of the role of democracy in the country’s security policy. The study aimed to provide insights into the German public’s views on democracy and foreign policy and to stimulate discussion on the trade-offs between economic interests and democratic values. The aim was to raise awareness of democracy as a critical security interest and to highlight the potential risks of trading with countries that do not uphold democratic values.
A representative study on new narratives of German foreign and security policy
According to the survey, most Germans (63%) believe values and interests should be equally prioritised in their country’s relationships with other nations. Only 12% believe that interests should come first, even if it means weakening their values. According to a recent survey, Germans find narratives that integrate values and interests the most convincing. 53% find the approaches of “securing values for interests” and “security through reliability” very convincing or convincing, while 42% are convinced by the “change through trade” narrative. These narratives can potentially change Germans’ attitudes by viewing values in German foreign policy as a means of ensuring long-term interest security. However, an idealistic emphasis on values could also lead to greater support for interest-driven foreign policies.