The contributions of this volume study how the political decision for European integration came about in Germany and Italy after 1945 due to the experiences of the 20th century. What learning processes‑ individual and collective‑ inherent in this European integration made the nation state become increasingly problematic as fundamental form of political order? Convergences between Germany and Italy, which can be explained historically, become visible here as well as divergences due to differing cultural and historical experiences.