The Formation of the First German Nation-State, 1800–1871 (Studies in European History)

This book contains many accounts of German unification focus on war, diplomacy and Bismarck and on the crucial ten years up to 1871. John Breuilly, in addition to paying attention to those issues, extends the analysis back to 1800. He also takes into account social, economic and cultural developments, bringing to the reader's attention recent research, much of it in German. In particular, the book argues that one should see unification as just one possible outcome of the German situation, the result of rapid shifts in the relative power of different European states and of underlying changes which made nationality a more vital force in politics.

From the moment the first German nation-state was proclaimed there have been conflicting views about national unification. John Breuilly argues that German unification was only one possibility amongst others and that Europe was moving inexorably towards national states.

Many accounts of German unification focus on war, diplomacy and Bismarck, and on the crucial 10 years up to 1871. In addition to these, this work analyzes back to 1800. It takes into account social, economic and cultural developments, highlighting German research Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-4 Historical Judgements....Pages 5-11 Conditions....Pages 12-57 Processes....Pages 58-99 Results....Pages 100-113 Back Matter....Pages 114-145