Europe as a system for managing German centrality

This article provides a profound analysis of Brendan Simms's geopolitical thought, which views Europe not as a collection of random events but as a deliberate system for managing the problem of Germany's centrality (Mittellage). The text reconstructs the logic of European self-understanding, demonstrating that multi-state interdependence is a structural response to German hegemony. The author explores the evolution of the Prussian raison d'état, the fear of strategic encirclement, and the role of neighboring powers in neutralizing Central European influence. Through the prism of the Treaty of Westphalia and the concept of mediated sovereignty, the reader learns about the collective security mechanisms that have for centuries shaped the continent's identity and stabilized the balance of power between land and sea powers. This is crucial reading for understanding Europe's contemporary political architecture.