Hi Eve, great question. We decided to focus on the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, which include the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China, but not Germany. Permanent members of the Security Council can veto drafted sanctions, making their agreement more consequential.
Additionally, while West and East Germany joined the United Nations in 1973, France helped to create the United Nations. France was a liberal state over the whole period since the People's Republic of China joined the Security Council in 1971, while Germany was two countries, one liberal and one not, until 1990. As such, we decided to study France as one of the three liberal states rather than Germany.
Why France but not Germany?
Hi Eve, great question. We decided to focus on the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, which include the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China, but not Germany. Permanent members of the Security Council can veto drafted sanctions, making their agreement more consequential.
Additionally, while West and East Germany joined the United Nations in 1973, France helped to create the United Nations. France was a liberal state over the whole period since the People's Republic of China joined the Security Council in 1971, while Germany was two countries, one liberal and one not, until 1990. As such, we decided to study France as one of the three liberal states rather than Germany.
Thank you David. Appreciate you taking the time to elaborate further.