Dynamics of politicisation and de-politicisation in foreign policy: the case of German military support for Ukraine

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The article argues that dynamics of politicisation and de-politicisation in foreign policy can be fruitfully analysed from a two-level perspective. This perspective highlights the interplay between domestic and international drivers of politicisation and de-politicisation as well as the strategic agency of governments in shaping the two counter-processes. The article illustrates its argument with a case study on the politicisation and (failed) de-politicisation of German military support for Ukraine. The case study demonstrates how the politicisation of the issue in German domestic politics was driven by a diverse range of domestic politicising agents (‘inside-out’ politicisation) who were able to tie in with international sources of politicisation (‘outside-in’ politicisation). In this highly politicised two-level context, the Scholz government tried, but largely failed, to de-politicise its decision-making by securitising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in German political discourse. These dynamics critically shaped the Scholz government’s often criticised approach to delivering weapons to Ukraine.