Early Modern Diplomacy22 Lena Oetzel: A Diplomatic Sphere of Its Own: Early Modern Peace Congresses
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110672008-024
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@earlymodern @womenknowhistory @historikerinnen @histodons
#emdiplomacy #earlymodern #peacecongresses
@earlymodern @womenknowhistory @historikerinnen @histodons
Today, we want to introduce you to one of our editors: @LenaOetzel She just completed her habilitation on the #WestphalianPeaceCongress and is now preparing the book for publication, so stay tuned!
For the #handbook, she summarises her extensive expertise on #earlymodern #peace #congresses as spheres of #diplomacy in an article. (2/6)
@earlymodern @womenknowhistory @historikerinnen @histodons
#Peacecongresses are a phenomenon that developed strongly in the 17th century and their function changed over time. However, research still focuses mainly on the #WestphalianPeaceCongress, which overshadows all others until the #Congress of #Vienna in 1815.
So far, #congresses as spheres of #emdiplomacy have received little attention in research. Oetzel argues that they differed in many ways from other #diplomatic activities which were usually carried out in a courtly environment.
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@earlymodern @womenknowhistory @historikerinnen @histodons
She sees two reasons for this: the temporality of #earlymodern #peacecongresses (#negotiations could last between a few weeks & years) & the lack of a centre, which at courts was the prince, so that procedures, ceremonies etc had to be agreed upon anew for each congress. This is one of the reasons why especially the #WestphalianPeaceCongress took so long. There was no generally accepted precedence, thus one had first to negotiate how to negotiate. For the later congresses it was a bit easier, here #Westphalia was used as an example – however, not always as a positive one, but also, as a way how not to do it. (4/6)
@earlymodern @womenknowhistory @historikerinnen @histodons
Generally, the function of #peacecongresses changed over time. At first, their main purpose was to negotiate a peace. Later they became more a place where a peace agreement was proclaimed, represented and celebrate, while the main negotiations took place elsewhere at the courts. In the second half of the 18th century their purpose changed, too: The should no make peace, but prevent a new conflict. Of course, these different functions often overlapped. (5/6)
#emdiplomacy #diplomacy #peacemaking #HistoricalPeaceResearch #peace
@earlymodern @womenknowhistory @historikerinnen @histodons
Oetzel argues that research has focussed for too long on the #WestphalianPeaceCongress and deduced from there to the later congresses. Thus, we need more (comparative) research on the earlier as well as the later congresses to understand #peacecongresses as a specific diplomatic sphere. Moreover, we should ask why were some peaces negotiated in a congress setting while others were still negotiated in a bilaterally. (6/6)
