Policy in times of crisis

Two foreign office departments will be merged into one, a new department established, routine work eliminated and new priorities set. At first glance, the results of "Review 2014" don't seem to be particularly sensational. It was under this banner that the foreign ministry closely scrutinized foreign policy for more than a year, with contributions from experts, from the public and department employees.

What is running smoothly, and what is going wrong? What does the new German foreign policy have to look like? How can Germany live up to expectations linked to its increased importance on the international stage? All those were issues in the discussion, which has now led to an organizational restructuring of the foreign ministry. Within 18 months, the mammoth government agency is to be properly equipped for the new challenges, which are keeping the German foreign minister and his employees on their toes.

A unique process of reflection in a year of crisis

So those results may not sound too spectacular. But the process triggered by Steinmeier, who proposed "Review 2014" when he took up his duties, is truly exceptional, if not unique. This is the first time a German foreign minister has, in such comprehensive openness, put his department under review and taken foreign policy issues into the public sphere. More than 60 events across the whole of Germany, panel discussions and Internet chats saw discussions on foreign policy and Germany's role in the world of today, with all and sundry allowed to take part and have their say.

Something else is still more remarkable: this public process of reflection was continued and sustained throughout the year 2014, although Steinmeier and his staff were challenged like never before in what must be called a year of crisis. The advances of terrorists in Iraq and Syria, the war in Gaza last summer, the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and, of course, the Ukraine conflict - this disastrous year hardly allowed a moment to breathe. It is, therefore, a truly admirable achievement on the part of Steinmeier and his associates not to have renounced reflecting on German foreign policy, especially in these turbulent times, and to have complemented the hustle and bustle of crisis diplomacy with the level-headedness of a calm and unbiased discussion.

Foreign policy no "ratings bomb"

The process also revealed that foreign policy is by no means the boring subject it is often purported to be - a television ratings bomb, a specialist area that politicians are reluctant to get into and which is unsuitable for election campaigns. "Review 2014" events were well attended, the associated Internet chat was quite popular, and international experts who had been asked for their opinions and contributions were impressed by the open and public debate on Germany's role in the world.

So what does Germany's new foreign policy profile look like? Steinmeier's answer, given during the closing stage of the "Review" process, was the only one possible: there was more than just an alternative between "inefficient diplomatic chatter and military interventions." In between, foreign policy had at its disposal a wide range of instruments, which he intends to develop further; for instance, in the area of civilian crisis prevention. Over the coming years, Steinmeier will be judged by the extent to which he is able to employ these tools.