Brendan Simms spans a wide arc over the concept of "great spaces," from its development in the 19th century to the conflict-ridden present. Key focuses include Carl Schmitt's concept of great spaces during the Nazi era, as well as the parallel ideas of Hitler and those of the Allied powers, and the legacy of these concepts during the Cold War. The author then addresses current notions of great spaces in Russia and the People's Republic of China, concluding with a look at the European Union. In closing, Brendan Simms poses the question of whether the concept of great spaces can provide a satisfactory framework for understanding the current state of the world.