The German question in Central and Eastern Europe and the long peace in Europe after 1945: an integrated theoretical explanation JONATHAN RYNHOLD* Abstract. Within the field of International Relations, theoretically informed explanations of the long peace in Europe since 1945 tend to focus on Western Europe, especially the revolution in Franco-German relations. In contrast, German relations with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) are ignored, despite the fact that this nexus was a major cause of instability prior to 1945. This article focuses on why the German question in CEE ceased to threaten the stability of Europe after 1945. The article empirically examines the development of the German question in CEE since 1945, which refers here mainly to the Oder-Neisse line and the plight of ethnic Germans expelled from CEE after World War II. It provides a theoretically integrated and chronologically sequenced explanation. First, it argues that Realism primarily explains the successful containment of the German question in CEE between 1945 and the late 1960s. Second, it argues that the Constructivist process of cultural change, which altered German intensions, was primarily responsible for subsequently increasing the depth of peace and stability between Germany and CEE, especially after the Cold War. Finally, it is argued that prior Realist factors and Liberal processes constituted a necessary, though not sufficient, condition for cultural change. Dr. Jonathan Rynhold is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Studies, Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Introduction The post 1945 era has been the most peaceful in the blood-drenched history of modern Europe. In the first half of the twentieth century, Europe was the hub of two World Wars involving the Great Powers and numerous ethno-national conflicts. Since 1945, Europe has increasingly become a zone of peace. This remarkable transformation makes Europe a particularly important case study for the analysis of the causes of regional war and peace and IR theory in general. This article aims to contribute to the growing literature of integrated theoretical * This article is dedicated to the memory of my great aunt Dr Eva Reichmann, a German-Jewish refugee and historian, who worked for reconciliation. I would like to thank my colleague Dr Shlomo Shapira and the anonymous reviewers for their very helpful comments on earlier versions of this article. I would also like to thank my research assistant Ms Anna Abelmann. Review of International Studies page 1 of 27  2010 British International Studies Association doi:10.1017/S0260210510000501 1