The protocols of the Austrian Council of Ministers: Schwarzenberg (1850/51)

The result of the project presents the basis of volume II/2 of the edition "Die Protokolle des österreichischen Ministerrates 1848-1867 (The Protocols of the Austrian Cabinet 1848-1867)". The scientific adaption and editing of those protocols will close the gap between the already published protocols of the revolutionary period of 1848 and the ones of the Buol-Schauenstein cabinet from 1852 onward. The publication consists of the complete text of the minutes with footnotes concerning textual criticism, a thorough scientific commentary, a scientific introduction, a bibliography and a detailed index. The modernisation started by the Schwarzenberg Cabinet after the supression of the revolution of 1848/49 was continued through 1850.These reforms "from above" covered not only the reorganisation of the political and judicial administration but were also aimed to improve the economical basis and the transport and communication system. The goal of these reforms was the transformation of the relicts of the revolution into a conservative political system by the so called "reordering of the Austrian Monarchy", i.e. to limit bourgeois emancipatory aspirations and to secure monarchic power to a large extent. This intention can be seen in the foundation of the "Reichsrat", wich had only an advisory function, and in the nullification of the imposed constitution of 4th of March 1849 by the "Silvesterpatent" of 1851. The inner political stability in a reactionary sense, which was especially demonstrated by the administrative integration of Hungary into Austria, enabled the Austrian government to turn towards the German question. This was the beginning of the "struggle for mastery in Germany" between Austria and Prussia, which dominated the foreign policy of Austria until 1866. This volume will be published in the series "Protocolls of the Austrian Cabinet" of the publishing house öbv&hpt. The volume brings together important documents scientifically adapted to be available for scientists interested in Austrian history and for teaching at the university, and is an important source for the history of Austria and its neighbours.