Germany and France; German-French
to persevere; to persist; to insist that; to stick to (one's opinion); to remain in a place; to stick to one's post
this time; now; next time; another time; recently; lately
general election (of the lower house)
depending on; as soon as; immediately after; as (e.g. "as one is told", "as one wishes"); whatever (e.g. "whatever is at hand"); order; program
wind direction; situation; way things are going; mood; temper
to change; to be transformed; to move to; to be different; to be uncommon
quite capable of ...; could happen; not unlikely to
result; consequence; coming to fruition; bearing fruit; as a result; consequently
this way; this direction; here; this (one); I; me
influence; effect; to influence; to affect; to have an influence on
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
complex; complicated; intricate; mixed (feelings)
to entangle; to entwine; to pick a quarrel; to find fault; to be involved with; to be influenced by
(political) administration; political power
(United States of) America; USA; US
to play a leading role; to play a central part
sphere; circle; range; category
self-government; autonomy; local (governmental) autonomy
government; administration
support; backing; endorsement; support; holding up; propping
international community; international society; the world
comparatively; relatively
reality; actuality; hard fact
Mediterranean Sea; Mediterranean sea (oceanography)
country; state; region; national government; central government; home (i.e. hometown, home country); (arch.) province (of Japan)
by all means; at any cost; whether (one is) willing or not; willingly or unwillingly; on no account; by no means
position; situation; viewpoint; standpoint; point of view
weak; frail; delicate; tender; unskilled; weak (wine)
to be outpushed; to lose a pushing competition
around the world; throughout the world
weather vane; fence-sitter; opportunist
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
both; both sides; both parties
big-shot; influential person; happy face; smiling face; sympathetic attitude; getting along with
to try and do something; to attempt to do something
United Kingdom; Britain; Great Britain
to support; to prop; to sustain; to hold at bay; to stem; to check
Northern Europe; Nordic countries; Scandinavia
Shikoku (smallest of the four main islands of Japan)