Germany’s “Ostpolitik” and Georgia: Any Lessons to Learn?

Egon Bahr and Willy Brandt began conceptualizing the “Ostpolitik” in the 1960s. It was not only shaped by the much-quoted formula “change through rapprochement”, but also by a few clear-cut principles. First, Bahr believed that the first step to overcoming an unloved status quo is to accept it. Acceptance, however, does not mean approval in this case, but the realistic recognition of one’s own situation and possibilities for action. Secondly, politicians of the time knew that “change” needs time and therefore patience. Thirdly, they trusted in a policy of “small steps”, which, so they believed, could contribute to the attainment of their objectives in the long run.

 When reading Bahr’s book, some parallels between Germany of the 1960s and today’s Georgia emerge – despite all the differences. Germany was divided, the GDR government was not recognized by the West German leadership, the GDR territory was only referred to as a “Soviet occupation zone” and the main task of West Germany’s diplomacy was to prevent the international recognition of the GDR. Even if one should not overstretch these parallels, the question arises whether today’s Georgia can learn something from the “Ostpolitik” of the 1960s.The translation of Bahr’s book shall contribute to this discussion. A first step was made during its presentation on 30 November 2018 in the Writer’s House in Tbilisi, which was attended by the translator Maia Panjikidze, Georgia’s Minister of State for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the German Ambassador Hubert Kirsch, Professor Oliver Reisner from Ilia University and the former members of the Bundestag and SPD foreign affairs politicians Ute Finckh-Krämer and Karsten D. Voigt.

Egon Bahr, "Das musst Du erzählen" - Erinnerungen an Willy Brand

ISBN  978-9941-482-19-9

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

Tbilisi, 2018