1 Introduction

This section discusses the complex historical relations between Germany and France and their central role in European integration. It analyzes the new demands on Franco-German relations in the 21st century due to globalization and geopolitical shifts, emphasizing the importance of transcending historical grievances and building strategic trust and deep cooperation. It highlights the critical role of German mainstream media in shaping France's image, reflecting its developmental status, and conveying Germany's stance on Franco-German relations. Through discourse analysis of France-related reports in Süddeutsche Zeitung from 2015 to 2025, the study aims to reveal the multifaceted portrayal of modern French society and provide new perspectives for research on Franco-German relations.

2 Research Methodology and Corpus Collection

This section introduces the corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis method, which combines critical discourse analysis and corpus linguistics to uncover ideological biases and power dynamics in news texts through quantitative analysis. Researchers retrieved keywords from the LexisNexis news database, filtering relevant reports from Süddeutsche Zeitung between 2015 and 2025 to construct the SDZ corpus, comprising 18,840 types and 105,354 tokens. The study statistically analyzes the volume and themes of news coverage, employs AntConc software to examine keywords and collocations, and combines concordance analysis with close reading to interpret German media's attitudes toward France and Franco-German relations, exploring the underlying reasons for France's image construction.

3 Focus Analysis of France-Related Reporting Based on Keyword and Collocation Statistics

From 2015 to 2025, Süddeutsche Zeitung's coverage of France peaked in 2017, 2018, and 2023, corresponding to the French presidential election, the European refugee crisis, and global political turbulence, respectively. Reporting focused on French politics, cultural identity, refugee issues, and Franco-German relations. Keyword analysis reveals that German media views France as central to Europe's strategic autonomy, highlighting political and cultural landmarks like Paris and the Élysée Palace while addressing crises in Franco-British border cities and immigrant communities. The prominence of Macron and Napoleon reflects the interplay between historical and contemporary politics. German media emphasizes cultural inclusivity in modern European society through coverage of Franco-German cultural exchanges. Brexit and France's "Yellow Vests" movement were key concerns for Süddeutsche Zeitung, reflecting Germany's focus on European integration and French political stability. Cultural keywords encompass symbols, religious ideologies, Franco-German friendship, and spatial identity, advocating for transcending stereotypes to understand France's history and reality. Macron's speech in the German Bundestag stressed the importance of advancing a shared European identity while acknowledging national distinctiveness. Border controls during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted cross-border cooperation and perceptions of European integration.

4 Concordance-Based Study of Franco-German Relations and French Society

Concordance analysis uncovers German mainstream media's perception and construction of France's image, using AntConc to extract node words for qualitative analysis. Süddeutsche Zeitung's coverage of France is predominantly neutral, with negative reports significantly outnumbering positive ones. Positive coverage centers on France's historical contributions and Macron's political agenda, while negative reports delve into France's multifaceted crises, including political instability, postcolonialism, social inequality, immigration integration, and rising populism. France's challenges stem from fractures in its republican model under globalization and immigration pressures, leading to social issues and extremism that threaten European integration. Regarding bilateral relations, Süddeutsche Zeitung highlights the reconciliation of wartime trauma, rebuilt trust through diverse exchanges, and joint efforts to strengthen Europe's global influence, presenting an optimistic narrative. Both nations recognize the necessity of deepening cooperation to advance European autonomy and global stability in the new international landscape. The Élysée Treaty and Aachen Treaty symbolize Germany and France as the EU's driving force, committed to European integration. However, challenges remain, requiring enhanced trust to resolve differences in defense, fiscal policy, energy, and EU visions. Despite disagreements, the Aachen Treaty underscores consensus on coordinating positions and taking joint action on major issues. German media urges both sides to transcend nationalism, embrace cultural diversity, and reinforce a shared European identity.

5 Socio-Historical Factors in the Perception and Construction of France's Image in German Mainstream Media

This section explores the socio-historical factors shaping France's image in German mainstream media. Coverage is influenced by Franco-German history, public perceptions, and the international landscape. The trauma of war lingers in collective memory, affecting media narratives on historical relations. German media remains wary of French nationalism and Euroscepticism while stressing the importance of Franco-German cooperation. Differing German and French conceptions of "homeland" and "nationalism" lead German media to critique nationalist trends in French politics. German intellectuals, influenced by the French Revolution, view modern France through the lens of French ideals. Amid the current global order, German media exhibits ambivalence—hopeful for cooperation yet concerned about France's domestic issues and divergent European visions. Germany's perception of France reflects historical reconciliation, cognitive differences, and German intellectuals' affinity for France, ultimately aiming to foster collaboration and achieve European strategic autonomy.

6 Conclusion

Süddeutsche Zeitung extensively covers France, and through AntConc and textual analysis, the study reveals Germany's view of France as central to Europe's strategic autonomy. While stressing the importance of Franco-German cooperation, German media critiques France's social crises and questions its capacity to lead Europe. It argues that France must revive its revolutionary spirit, transcend nationalism, and strengthen European identity to advance integration.