The German crisis

The failure to form a coalition government in Germany and the prospect of fresh elections have thrown the European Union into uncertainty.

The continent is again feeling the depressing weight of Germany's leverage in European affairs.

The big difference compared to the past is that, whereas Germany's disproportionate power led to two devastating world wars in the previous century and the people of the continent fought to defeat the country, today everyone seems to be hoping that Berlin finds a way to exit the crisis as quickly as possible.

But there is also a counterargument to this optimistic interpretation of events.

The German crisis showed that difficulties in forming a government in Berlin are enough to create unease across the 28 member-states that make up the EU bloc.

The crisis in Berlin in fact confirms just how immature, and thus vulnerable,...