War State And Society

Small power diplomacy in seventeenth century Europe War, State and Society in Liège is a fascinating case study of the consequences of war in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and touches upon wider issues in early modern history, such as small power diplomacy in the seventeenth century and during the Nine Years’ War. For centuries, the small semi-independent Holy Roman Principality of Liège succeeded in preserving a non-belligerent role in European conflicts. During the Nine Years’ War (1688–1697), however, Liège’s leaders had to abolish the practice of neutrality. For the first time in its early modern history, the Prince-Bishopric had to raise a regular army, reconstruct ruined defence structures, and supply army contributions in both money and material. The issues under discussion in War, State and Society in Liège offer the reader insight into how Liège politically protected its powerful institutions and how the local elite tried to influence the interplay between domestic and external diplomatic relationships.

"Comparing England and the Netherlands in the age of warrior princes such as Henry VIII and Charles V, the book examines the development of new military and fiscal institutions, and asks how mobilzation for war changed political relationships throughout society." --Résumé de l'éditeur.

"This volume is a valuable source of information that also represents a genuinely collaborative approach to understanding Soviet history. The collection is so rich that every scholar and teacher of Soviet history will want to consult it. Highly recommended." —Choice "Documentation of this well-edited volume is exhaustive. It can be highly recommended for undergraduate and graduate students and specialists." —History "This is a surprisingly readable, well-structured book that is an absolute necessity for a college library as well as a useful addition to a scholar's personal library." —Perspectives on Political Science " . . . essential reading . . . abundant empirical research and fresh interpretations." —The Russian Review To what extent were the social responses and political choices of the Civil War years the product of social and economic circumstances and to what extent were they the result of the independent exercise of conscious political will? This landmark volume presents the leading edge of current scholarship on the social history of the Russian Civil War.

This book provides a radical new interpretation of the aims of the lesser German princes during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries through the example of the duchy of Württemberg. Arguing that the princes' political ambitions were fundamental in shaping the internal development of their territories, the author sheds new light on the political importance of the notorious German 'soldier trade' and its role in international diplomacy. The wider social and political impact of these policies is also investigated in a comparative framework, while traditional interpretations of the dramatic struggle between duke and estates are challenged in a reassessment of the role of early modern representative institutions in German state development. The relationship of these internal political struggles to the different elements of the Holy Roman Empire is revealed, opening up new perspectives on the role of the German states within the imperial structure and revealing the empire as a flawed but functioning political system.

The expansion of the British state was neither automatic nor accidental. Rather, it was the outcome of recurring battles over the proper boundaries of the state and its role in economy and society. The Politics of State Expansion focuses on the interests arrayed on either side of this struggle; providing a new and critical perspective on the growth of the `Keynsian welfare state' and on the more recent retreat from Keynes and from collective provision.

What determines the strategies by which a state mobilizes resources for war? And does war preparation strengthen or weaken the state in relation to society? In addressing these questions, Michael Barnett develops a novel theoretical framework that traces the connection between war preparation and changes in state-society relations, and applies that framework to Egypt from 1952 to 1977 and Israel from 1948 through 1977. Confronting the Costs of War addresses major issues in international relations, comparative politics, and Middle Eastern studies.