Friedrich Ratzel developed a political geography rooted in an historical hegelian philosophy, in which organicism occupies a large place. His general theory of State's expansion leads to a theory of living space (Lebensraum), totally subordinated to the colonial problematic. This approach directly reflects the difficulties of the nationalist German intelligentsia to find its way between two poles. On the one hand, the « occidental greatness », to which the German ruling class never manages to take part entirely and on the other, the « German greatness », which this same ruling class is unable to promote, in a context where each imperialism jealously seeks to maintain its position.