VOA慢速英语2015 德国慢慢对世界大事有着更大的影响力

AS IT IS 2015-03-21 Germany Slowly Having More Influence on World Events 德国慢慢对世界大事有着更大的影响力

Some observers say Germany has the makings of a world power. They note the German government’s lead in trying to solve the European financial crisis. They also point to German involvement in diplomatic efforts to stop the war in Ukraine. But other observers wonder whether Germany is ready to get more involved in world events.

Germany is the largest economic power in Europe. The country has never been as economically strong, secure and free as it is today. Germany is the fourth-largest economy in the world, and one of the top exporters.

In the 24 years since Germany was unified¹, it has become the most valuable European partner of the United States. But it has been, and is, reluctant to take the lead in world events.

Stephen Szabo is the executive director of the Transatlantic Academy research center. He wrote a book called “Germany, Russia, and the Rise of Geo-Economics.” He says Germany is now deciding its future.

“It's the whole idea of being an economic power, not a military or strategic power. Will Germany stop being a big trading state that('s) concerned only about trading, or will it now begin to rebalance?"

Stephen Szabo says it will not be easy for Germany to become a great power. He says the 2009 debt crisis in Europe caused a shift in political power on the continent. The debt crisis forced a number of European countries to cut government programs and make other financial reforms. Mr. Szabo says these measures led to a rise in extremist groups. He says the extremists do not agree on many issues except their dislike of the steps Germany has required as a condition for economic help.

“I think there's been a certain arrogance² about: ‘We have the right way -- you should just follow our way.’ This is something that they're gonna have to address.”

Reinhard Bütikofer is a German politician and a member of the country’s Council on Foreign Relations. He says the German military is an important part of NATO’s new rapid-response force. The alliance decided³ to create such a force after Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Mr. Bütikofer says the German military also is expanding into other areas.

“And the Germans, who are never very eager to sort of get involved militarily, have put troops into some of the Baltic countries, helping⁴ these countries that have very weak military protection of their own.”

Germany is also giving weapons to Iraqi Kurdish forces for their operations against Islamic State militants⁵.

Experts say whether Germany will become a world power depends on the strength of an international political system supported by Western power. They note a lot of that support is now coming from Germany.

Words in This Story

unify⁶ – v. to cause (people or things) to be joined or brought together

reluctant – adj. feeling or showing doubt about doing something; not willing or eager to do something

strategic – adj. of or relating to a general plan that is created to achieve a goal, particularly in war, politics or business, usually over a long period of time

shift – n. a change in position or direction

arrogance – n. an insulting way of thinking or behaving that comes from believing that you are better, smarter or more important than other people

response – n. something that is done as a reaction to something else

eager – adj. feeling a strong and impatient desire to do something or for something

1 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

2 arrogance   

n.傲慢，自大

参考例句：

• His arrogance comes out in every speech he makes.他每次讲话都表现得骄傲自大。
• Arrogance arrested his progress.骄傲阻碍了他的进步。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

6 unify   

vt.使联合，统一；使相同，使一致

参考例句：

• How can we unify such scattered islands into a nation?我们怎么才能把如此分散的岛屿统一成一个国家呢？
• It is difficult to imagine how the North and South could ever agree on a formula to unify the divided peninsula.很难想象南北双方在统一半岛的方案上究竟怎样才能达成一致。