Przesłanki powojennej polityki europejskiej Konrada Adenauera. Perspektywa realistyczna

Chancellor Konrad Adenauer’s engagement in the post-war process of setting-up of international cooperation in Europe is doubtless. Yet, it is not clear, what was the main factor which made the chancellor take the European path. The paper comprises an analysis of terms, which decided the political course of Adenauer’s Germany. What should be reckoned among them is: critical situation of Europe, factual elimination of German statehood, exceptional position od extra-European powers (USA as an ally and USSR as the main threat) and Franco-German relations, which required a complete redefi nition. The main thesis reads that European orientation perfectly served the purposes of German interests in the post war epoch, while the chancellor was fully aware of that. In the conclusion the author tends to answer a question, if it is possible to trace some aspects of idealism in Adenauer’s views and actions, despite his incontestable political realism.