Status Updates From The Transformation of Europ...

The end of the short peace in 1803 featured a territorial revolution in Germany were a lot of the small states were consolidated into the medium and larger German powers called the Imperial Recess. Schroeder spins it as an attempt to save the German constitution which is I could imagine that would support such sweeping change. He takes some extra time here to add to his Bonaparte as boogieman theory rather justly.

Russia and Britain as moderating dual hegemons, not directly competing, but managing competition effectively. 1815-1818

The concert of Europe established (finished with the Vienna conference) The long 19 century exiting its adolescence. The New Imperalist balance of power entrenched, youthful. The trenches and 20th century struggling to be born, a glimmer in the eye. Austria’s insecurity simply postponed, the assassination of the archduke almost obvious 100 years beforehand

Napoleon in the driver’s seat, Russian overextension and the assassination of Paul, Amiens being an average 18th century treaty with Bonaparte as the prime reason for its short duration.

I will look back on this book as critical in my historical understanding, I wish I had tried reading it in college. Unbelievably good, totally ignores the military part of the Napoleonic wars in a way that makes you wonder why anyone talks about the battles or campaigns.

Schroeder stressed that the old international order was still in play and even that there weren’t solid ideas for something new during the First Coalition.

The proto-concert attempt at restraint from Leopold II.

The strain of war makes the balance of power rear its head again (getting nearer to the end of Nap Wars)

The underlying logic of constant competition leads to its natural break from a revolutionary (in IR terms ‘revisionist’ actor) government and individual (Napoleon) who has maximalist goals and no commitment to collective security, due to France’s inherently insecure position in the prior balance. British and Russians continue to waffle to stop an existential crisis from France, Austria/cent europe the victim

France consolidates, Prussia makes an effort only after Austria is subdued and Russia is reluctant to help, far too late. Berlin degree (confidential system established) analyzed in detail as part of the overarching structure of French domination of allies. Persistent theme: three hegemonic powers (Russia, France, Britain) constantly jockeying: France escalating, Britain reluctant, Russia balancing (late)

At 1806, Napoleon is a tremendous figure but the book does a good job analyzing all the diplomats and foreign ministries and national strategies rather than focusing on him. He’s a little one dimensional in his pursuit of open ended dominance in this reading, but it feeds well into the thesis of the ‘destruction’ of 18th century politics over the course of the first decade of the 1800’s.

Book is a slog. Up to 1803/1804 and analysis of British grand strategy + russian grand strategy re: continuing in the war and trying to balance against France. It's good but There's still 550 pages left. Will probably pick up after 1815 Congress of Vienna and be more interesting/less 'interwar/war/interwar/war' like it is now during the coalition wars w nap