Summary
Germany's Ostpolitik with Russia is rooted in economics as much as in politics. German business sees Russia as a vast field for new exports while it also depends on Russian gas. Politically Germany sees no Russian threat in the East and believes that it promotes Russia's integration into Europe. German leaders believe that Russia depends as much on Germany and Europe as Europe depends on Russia.
Analysis
Germany's Ostpolitik with Russia is rooted in both economics and politics. German leaders see Russia as a vast market for German exports and this stimulates a desire for rapprochement given Germany's dependence upon exports. Simultaneously Germany increasingly depends upon Russian gas and until this year the government was blocked in its search for alternatives, namely nuclear power. Likewise, many members of the SPD harbor anti-American dispositions, particularly towards the polices of the Bush Administration, and these drive them to view Russia more favorably.
Third, Germany has hitherto seen no geopolitical threat from Russia and believes that Russia and Europe, including Germany, depend equally upon one another. Therefore it argues that it needs to pursue a policy of rapprochement with Russia, e.g. welcoming Russian investment in key German sectors, even though that investment is really from the Russian state. This policy of rapprochement through integration (Annaherung Durch Verflechtung) is supposed to express that alleged mutual dependence as a basis for this rapprochement leading to integration. I would argue that this policy is misconceived, that Germany does not benefit equally or as much as Russia has. Instead Russia has used it to secure key positions in German and other countries' critical economic sectors, create energy dependencies and inhibit criticism of Russian policies when justified. Ultimately I believe Russia's goal is to use energy, the revenues associated with it, and spinoffs from it, e.g. using government sponsored businesses, subverting political parties and leaders, and using organized crime connections in Europe to undermine both European integration and the integrity and credibility of Europe's security organizations, NATO, and the EU. Nevertheless until now this policy has enjoyed a broad base of support across party lines in Germany.
