Opinions can shape international politics at least as much as facts. That's one lesson that can already be drawn from the Brexit debate. Given the fact that fears of a newly ascendant Germany have helped fuel the campaign for Brexit, its proponents should take heed of the opinions voiced in a new pan-European poll that does in fact reveal a growing sense of self-confidence in Germany.
According to the US-based Pew Research Center, 62 percent of Germans think their country has become more important over the past decade. That is a higher share than in any of the other EU countries polled. This new German confidence goes against an overall European trend: from France to Italy and Britain, those polled tend to see their respective countries' international influence shrinking. [...]
Six out of 10 Germans may see their country playing a bigger role on the world stage, but when it comes to using that power, more than two-thirds want allies' interests taken into account - even if that means compromising Germany's own interests. With more than two-thirds willing to compromise on foreign policy, Germans come across as the most diplomatic of the Europeans surveyed. Greece marks the other end of the spectrum with a mere 19 percent willing to sacrifice national interest, compared to an EU-wide share of 44 percent.
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