Opinion | As China seeks a prosperous and peaceful rise, 20th-century Germany has lessons to offer
- After two unsuccessful world wars, Germany finally achieved its dream of European leadership by rejecting nationalistic hard power and embracing compromise
- China can do the same in the Asia-Pacific by giving up hard power and extending cooperation, free trade and economic liberalism
Eight decades later, Europe is the world’s most peaceful and prosperous continent, integrated in a tight political and economic union. At its centre sits the undisputed leader of the European Union, Germany.
For Chinese leaders who are keen observers of history, no story is more important and instructive than that of 20th-century Germany. Germany and China share an essential geopolitical feature: both are, unambiguously, the leading powers of their region, yet neither is large enough to dominate its region through sheer military strength.
Just 20 years later, Germany was at it again, but while it was clearly the most powerful European country, it found itself incapable of defeating all its enemies, who banded together to resist the aspiring hegemon.