HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor Bonapartism and Realpolitik Lecture 8 30 September 2010

2 Conservatisms in Prussia High-Conservatism (East German officials, Junkers): Stressed historical legitimacy of Prussia’s traditional political system Aimed to pull back political modernisation since 1848 = reactionary + neo-absolutist Neo-Conservatism (West German officials, academics, liberal- minded nobles, Crown prince William): Stressed need to modernize Prussia’s political system Aimed to cancel alliances with reactionary Russia + Austria for cooperation with liberal-minded Britain

Bismarck’s reaction Strongly opposed to Neo-Conservatism = saw danger of internal split + weakening of monarchy Rejected British parliamentary liberalism as unsuitable for Prussia basing on strong monarchs + military Promoted to take ‘Bonapartism’ of French Emperor Napoleon III as model for Prussia

Bonapartism (I) Louis Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon I: Conservative coup of abolition of 2nd republic + new conservative constitution + plebiscite of French voters for ‘Emperor Napoleon III’, 1852 = 2nd French Empire Employed democratic tool of peoples’ sovereignty (= universal suffrage = plebiscite) to beat republicans + liberals Used plebiscite to justify conservative government Based his rule on ‘peoples’ will’ (not god’s will), conservative constitution, power over army + police

Bonapartism (II) Introduced social policies + promoted economic life (reduction of unemployment by large building programs = infrastructure + fortifications + Paris: ‘Capital of the world’) Pushed for aggressive foreign policy to strengthen France’s international power position = Extremely popular among French nationalistic masses = A modern base of legitimacy for monarchy without endangering privileges of old elites + without giving democratic concessions = A unique balance between ‘historical rights’ + modern peoples’ sovereignty

Bismarck’s Ideas Considered to transfer Napoleon’s successful conservative tactics to Prussia Came in strong conflict with high-Conservatives who rejected Bonapartism as ‘adventure’, ‘embodiment of peoples’ sovereignty’, ‘natural enemy of Prussia’, ‘infamous marriage between absolutism + liberalism’ Regarded ‘Realpolitik’ (A.L. Rochau, 1853) as suitable tool for domestic + foreign politics = no binding ideologies, principles, contracts, but purely pragmatic + opportunistic strategies aiming for success as only criteria for politics = Bismarck: ‘The White Revolutionary’ ?

The National Question Austria regarded German national movement as potential risk for multi-national Habsburg Empire = Therefore: A German national state possible without Austria Prussia (Bismarck) regarded German national movement as potential tool for Prussia’s political ambitions for Germany = Therefore: A German national state impossible without Prussia

‘Revolution From Above’ Bismarck’s conception: To connect Prussia’s political aims in Germany with German national movement To exclude Austria from Germany To preserve power of Prussian king + conservative elites To provide a new mass basis for Conservatism To enforce integration of liberal + national forces by Prussia’s dynamical + successful foreign policies = Bismarckian style of ‘Bonapartism’