State and Society in Early Modern Austria

The history of the Habsburg Monarchy and Austria in the early modern period continues to capture the interest of many scholars. This collection of essays by twenty leading authorities from the United States, Austria, Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands focuses on the interplay between the Habsburg government and a multiplicity of social aspects. As a whole, State and Society in Early Modern Austria reexamines and sometimes debunks old views about the Habsburg Monarchy and provides insight into the state of current historical thinking on the early modern state. Moreover, this broad focus will help the reader understand the complex cultural heritage of the turbulent nationalities of East Central Europe. Specific essays examine the ruling elite's attempts to establish cultural hegemony through its control over religious minorities, government patronage, and both literary and visual media. Other essays examine the interplay between economic and social policy; the tension between free enterprise and the Habsburg regime's attempts to meet the immediate needs of the masses of indigent; and the monarchy's interaction with German states and the Balkans. The volume is divided into five sections: Religion and the Counter-Reformation, Government and Culture during the Baroque, Government and Economy, Government and the People during the Aufklarung, and Foreign Policy.