Das Feld der Großmächte im 18. Jahrhundert

The concept of great powers came into being in the 18th century and persisted until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. This concept created and influenced the development of modern societies in Europe and has shaped their form until now. The power to threaten other great powers, measures to discipline all citizens and the functionalisation of social sub-areas for the benefit of the absolutist potentates in Europe marked the beginning of modern Europe.
The author examines the constitution of the idea of great powers by analysing the process of Prussia being recognised as a great power under Fredrick the Great (1740–1763). By discussing the issue in terms of history and political science, the author establishes the historical-sociological point of view. Concepts from P. Bourdieu, N. Luhmann, G.H. Mead and M. Weber form a structure for the analysis on two levels: the process Prussia underwent to be recognised as a great power and – as a consequence – the communication typical of this field. Thus, the idea of the great power is conceptualised as “Historically Individual”, constituting its own tradition of modernity until now.