The Eu Territorial Disputes Mirrored By Instrumental Reason And Moral Reason

France and Germany used to be the two major European forces.Given their geographical affinity and great national power,the two nation-states longed to be the only empire dominating the Continent.They battled over economy,military forces and political agendas.Alsace-Lorraine became the major territory the two nation-states rivaled for and the disputes over its administrative sovereignty resulted in the two nation-states' hostilities against each other.This paper starts with the origin of the Alsace-Lorraine issue and examines the varied driving forces behind the rivalry states in different periods.It interrogates the policies implemented in different periods and the native groups' senses of belonging and narrates how the natives integrated into France in terms of history,law and cultural identification,and expose the essence of dispute settlement.The Franco-German relations dated back to A.D.843.Following the death of Charlemagne,the Lords of the east and the west of the Frankish realm began to mark divisions in the Middle Francia,which shaped the early territories of the current France and Germany.The Treaty of Mersen,concluded on 8 August 870,was a treaty of partition of the realm which determined the territories of France,Germany and Italy,and who claimed the overlordship of Alsace-Lorraine.However,with the fall of the Carolingian Empire,East Francia and West Francia were turned into Francia and Holy Roman Empire and the disputes over the overlordship of Alsace-Lorraine had since never come to an end.The most turbulent era came came at the beginning of the 19th century.Following the Prussians' victory in the Franco-Prussian War,they annexed the Alsace-Lorraine territory.Within seven decades onwards,the German Empire waged two World Wars which brought the French people into great turmoil and drastically undermined the French national power.However,the post-WWII era saw the positive changes in Franco-German relations.The two nation-states collaborated closely in the process of the European integration.Among a series of Franco-German border collaborations(the Upper Rhine area and SaarLorLux,for example),the Upper Rhine played a significant role in boosting the European economy and elevating the international recognition of both countries.In conclusion,Alsace-Lorraine has always been a battle field over which the two nation-states vied for national interests and individual privileges.The disputes over Alsace-Lorraine are what happen after people in power defend the rationality of mores and order in their own interests.But Alsace-Lorraine sets a good example of solving conflicts first and then attaining development.It is an worthwhile case study to examine territorial disputes and collaborations between border nations.