The distribution of political centrality in the European state system

First of all, the paper describes the evolution of interstate cooperation and transnational group formation as integrative processes in the European state system, focusing on the political centers from where these processes emanate. Secondly, it depicts the current pattern of political centrality with respect to interstate cooperation and transnational group formation. The European Union and its predecessors are the products of unprecedented levels of interstate and transnational contact and have provided the conditions for further growth. This has also to some extent affected the nature of political centrality. The evidence for this paper is derived from quantitative data and literary impressions regarding the locations of peace congresses, the network of cosmopolitanism and world citizenship, the secretariats of international governmental and nongovernmental organizations and the venues of international meetings. Conclusions are that Europe is currently unusually richly endowed with international organizations and meeting places and that this builds on a long tradition. Many capital cities, certainly not merely major power centers, play very prominent roles. Brussels, London and Paris are in a class of their own. The emphasis on capitals has grown over time particularly as regards interstate cooperation. In processes of transnational group formation, capital cities are a trifle less prominent. University towns play a pretty important role in this regard, continuing a long tradition. They, after all, sheltered the Gelehrtenrepublik of the renaissance and were focal points of the Republique des Lettres of the ancien regime. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.