Germany's Unnecessary Hegemony Berlin's Seeking of ‘Tranquility, Profit and Power’ in the Absence of Systemic Constraints

Based on the realist theory of international relations, this article analyses whether Germany has any incentives to seek (regional) hegemony. It concludes that under the current systemic circumstances – in which the country's survival is ensured by the United States – Germany has no reason to become a hegemon, which is normally a strategy to escape the perils of the anarchic international system.