PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY: 1848.
Item
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Title
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PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY: 1848.
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Identifier
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AAI8222928
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identifier
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8222928
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Creator
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BILLY, GEORGE JOHN.
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Contributor
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William 0. Shanahan
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Date
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1982
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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History, Modern
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Abstract
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Based upon Palmerston's previously restricted private correspondence, as well as his state papers, the dissertation emphasizes the significance of the first half of 1848, and it deals with his foreign policy in terms of his personal views and his deep concern about the increasingly tumultuous temper of social and political unrest in the United Kingdom. The interplay between British domestic affairs and the unfolding revolution on the continent in 1848 is taken into account. Palmerston's view of continental events in the revolutionary year had been strongly influenced by the course of events at home. He shaped his foreign policy to meet domestic as well as foreign threats to British stability. This interconnection between domestic and continental events is analyzed in detail.;Because foreign policy was still largely the outcome of personal judgment, it is fruitful to examine Palmerston's own set of values. How this Anglo-Irish gentleman viewed society, government, the state system and Great Britain's role in it provides insight into how he evaluated his options in foreign policy during 1848-1849. His policy decisions, which on the surface seem inconsistent and contradictory, gain coherence when Palmerston's own opinions are kept in mind. Thus, the account of Palmerston's diplomacy takes his personal world view into consideration as well as the ebb and flow of international and domestic affairs.;The dissertation attempts to offer a fresh interpretation of Palmerston's often misunderstood actions during the eventful years 1848-1849. Palmerston's shifts in alignment with the great powers during these years are emphasized. The concluding chapter of the dissertation discusses the long-range consequences of Palmerston's diplomacy for the conservative reaction on the continent following the revolutionary years, for Great Britain's imperial interests, and for Palmerston's own career. Thus, in addition to new sources, the dissertation presents a broad approach to Palmerston and Britain's role in the Revolution of 1848.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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History
