Metternich, the German Question and the Pursuit of Peace : : 1840–1848 / / Barbora Pásztorová.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter DG Plus DeG Package 2022 Part 1
• VerfasserIn: Pásztorová, Barbora,
• Place / Publishing House: München ;, Wien : : De Gruyter Oldenbourg, , [2022]; ©2022
• Year of Publication: 2022
• Language: English
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (V, 184 p.)

Despite the large number of books and studies written about Metternich, there is still a period of his political career that scholars neglect to this day, the 1840s. This book offers an analysis of Metternich's German policy in the years 1840–1848 and thus fills a gap in Metternich studies. Analysing this period is important due to the fact that over the course of those less than nine years, Metternich lost his influence within the German Confederation. He represented a certain way of behaving – moderate, calm and reconciliatory – but it was an attitude which was rejected during the period of rising mass nationalism. Nevertheless, he continued to endeavour to steer this escalating nationalism, and by applying calming policies prevent it from causing armed conflicts in Europe. Since Metternich conceived the German Confederation at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 as one of the pillars of the European peace settlement, the issue is viewed from the perspective of European crises of the time, from the Rhine Crisis to the Swiss civil war. Similarly, it presents his policy in a broader context of economic and social history. The book follows revisionist research on Metternich and refutes some of the clichés still associated with his policy.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- List of Abbreviations -- Introduction -- Chapter 1 Metternich and the German Question in 1815–1840 -- Chapter 2 The Rhine Crisis -- Chapter 3 The Schleswig-Holstein Question -- Chapter 4 Economic Relations between Austria and Germany -- Chapter 5 Annexation of Cracow -- Chapter 6 Civil War in Switzerland -- Chapter 7 The National and Constitutional Question in Germany -- Conclusion -- Sources and Literature -- Index