Farliga förbindelser: Betydelsen av vänskap, status och suveränitet i diskussioner om svensk allianspolitik 1680–1683
(2020) HISK37 20201History
- Abstract
- The present study examines the discussions about alliance policy in the Swedish council of the realm 1680-1683. Taking issue with earlier research that has portrayed the Swedish foreign policy during this period in realist terms, the study instead uses the concepts of friendship, status and sovereignty to give context to the arguments used by the council when discussing alliance partners. Regarding friendship the study argues that criticism levelled at potential alliances with France focused on interpersonal aspects where France was portrayed, contrary to contemporary ideas of friendship, as failing to respect the Swedish king as an equal sovereign. An alliance with France was also problematic from the perspective of status. The study... (More)
- The present study examines the discussions about alliance policy in the Swedish council of the realm 1680-1683. Taking issue with earlier research that has portrayed the Swedish foreign policy during this period in realist terms, the study instead uses the concepts of friendship, status and sovereignty to give context to the arguments used by the council when discussing alliance partners. Regarding friendship the study argues that criticism levelled at potential alliances with France focused on interpersonal aspects where France was portrayed, contrary to contemporary ideas of friendship, as failing to respect the Swedish king as an equal sovereign. An alliance with France was also problematic from the perspective of status. The study shows that the council worried about Sweden’s reputation in Germany and its position as guarantor of the peace of Westphalia, which were perceived to be threatened by the Swedish ties to France and its policy of reunions. Sweden’s alliance with Austria from 1681 and onwards was however also problematic since Austria was waging war on protestant rebels and demanded military support Sweden did not have the resources to provide in its conflict with the ottoman empire. The study also argues that concern about the Swedish king’s sovereignty can explain why the council on several occasions expressed objections to alliances and subsidy treaties in general. The council did not want the Swedish king to be perceived as dependent on others for his claims to power. Contrary to theories claiming that international systems based on sovereign states are defined by anarchy, the study furthermore argues that the Swedish council of the realm paid respect to international norms and expected others to do the same. In general, the study argues that it is beneficial to view the international system in early modern Europe as a ‘society of princes’ rather than a sovereign states system in realist terms, if one seeks to understand how the international actors themselves viewed their political actions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9021158
- author
- Johnsson, Viggo LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- HISK37 20201
- year
- 2020
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Tidigmodern utrikespolitik, Bengt Oxenstierna, Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, Karl XI, vänskap, status, suveränitet, furstesamhälle, riksrådet, Early modern foreign policy, Charles XI of Sweden, friendship, sovereignty, society of princes, Swedish council of the realm
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9021158
- date added to LUP
- 2020-06-29 15:58:38
- date last changed
- 2020-06-29 15:58:38
@misc{9021158,
abstract = {{The present study examines the discussions about alliance policy in the Swedish council of the realm 1680-1683. Taking issue with earlier research that has portrayed the Swedish foreign policy during this period in realist terms, the study instead uses the concepts of friendship, status and sovereignty to give context to the arguments used by the council when discussing alliance partners. Regarding friendship the study argues that criticism levelled at potential alliances with France focused on interpersonal aspects where France was portrayed, contrary to contemporary ideas of friendship, as failing to respect the Swedish king as an equal sovereign. An alliance with France was also problematic from the perspective of status. The study shows that the council worried about Sweden’s reputation in Germany and its position as guarantor of the peace of Westphalia, which were perceived to be threatened by the Swedish ties to France and its policy of reunions. Sweden’s alliance with Austria from 1681 and onwards was however also problematic since Austria was waging war on protestant rebels and demanded military support Sweden did not have the resources to provide in its conflict with the ottoman empire. The study also argues that concern about the Swedish king’s sovereignty can explain why the council on several occasions expressed objections to alliances and subsidy treaties in general. The council did not want the Swedish king to be perceived as dependent on others for his claims to power. Contrary to theories claiming that international systems based on sovereign states are defined by anarchy, the study furthermore argues that the Swedish council of the realm paid respect to international norms and expected others to do the same. In general, the study argues that it is beneficial to view the international system in early modern Europe as a ‘society of princes’ rather than a sovereign states system in realist terms, if one seeks to understand how the international actors themselves viewed their political actions.}},
author = {{Johnsson, Viggo}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Farliga förbindelser: Betydelsen av vänskap, status och suveränitet i diskussioner om svensk allianspolitik 1680–1683}},
year = {{2020}},
}