The Transformation of European Politics 1763-1848 (Oxford History of Modern Europe)

ThisistheonlymodernstudyofEuropeanpoliticstocovertheentiretimespanfromtheendoftheSevenYears'Warin1763totherevolutionaryyearof1848.PaulSchroeder'scomprehensiveandauthoritativevolumechartsthecourseofinternationalhistoryoverthisturbulentperiod,inwhichthemapofEuropewasredrawntimeandagain.ProfessorSchroederexaminesthewars,politicalcrises,anddiplomaticopportunitiesoftheage,manyofwhich-theRevolutionaryandNapoleonicWars,theCongressofViennaanditsaftermath-hadfar-reachingconsequencesformodernEurope.ProfessorSchroederprovidesanewaccountofthecourseofinternationalpoliticsovertheseyearsandamajorreinterpretationofthestructureandoperationoftheinternationalsystem.Heshowshowthepracticeofinternationalpoliticswastransformedinrevolutionaryways,withfar-reachingandbeneficialeffects.TheViennaSettlementestablishedpeacebyabandoningthecompetitivebalance-of-powerpoliticsoftheeighteenthcentury,anddevisinganewpoliticalequilibrium.ItcreatedaEuropeanconsensusonanewpoliticalbalancewithnewrulestomaintainit,usheringinauniquelypeaceful,progressiveperiodinEuropeaninternationalpolitics.