The Influence of Hegemonic Power on Regional Integration Case Study of Germany in European Union

This study aims to disclose the influence of hegemonic states on regional integration, using Germany’s role in the European Union as its main case study. Over the past decade, the European Union security and foreign policy was leaderless to a great extent. The Brussels-led foreign policy continued to be more vision than reality. The traditional Franco-German engine stuttered, and the United Kingdom looked inwards. Several crises erupted at the same time in Europe putting the European Union under pressure to provide solutions and stay united. These parallel developments in the European Union and International level propelled Germany to unofficially lead the European Union foreign and security policies and to become Europe’s political engine. Germany’s role as a foreign policy leader and the implications that its leadership has for the EU’s foreign and security policies are thoroughly analyzed in this research. The study finds that Germany meets the standard of being a regional hegemon due to its heavy influence in the European Union’s policies such as monetary, immigration and defense. The study further goes on to give recommendations on how Germany can redefine its engagements with the European Union while ensuring its interests are complimentary to the well-being of the European Union.