Trade, politics, perspectives, and the question of a British commercial policy towards the German states, 1848-1866
Because the field of Anglo-German relations remains a function of domestic history rather than a subject of investigation in its own right, and because the mid-century is of particular interest to German historians rather than British, British foreign relations with the German states are predominantly approached using parameters set by German historians. This study attempts to take much more account of the British perspective. To this end, it discusses the place of the German states in the wider field of British commercial policy, how information is received and processed on the German states, and the way in which policy is formulated. It shows that British commercial policy as applied to the German states had little to do specifically with the states, but was rather the application of a commercial policy which was to be generally applied. It also aims to prove that there was little political motivation behind British commercial policy. One of the conclusions is indeed just how low the profile of the German states was in British policy-making. At the same time, an account is given of the ramifications of British commercial policy in the environment of the German states. It is shown that the 1850s represent
Davis, John Richard
History
Trade, politics, perspectives, and the question of a British commercial policy towards the German states, 1848-1866. Because the field of Anglo-German relations remains a function of domestic history rather than a subject of investigation in its own right, and because the mid-century is of particular interest to German historians rather than British, British foreign relations with the German states are predominantly approached using parameters set by German historians. This study attempts to take much more account of the British perspective. To this end, it discusses the place of the German states in the wider field of British commercial policy, how information is received and processed on the German states, and the way in which policy is formulated. It shows that British commercial policy as applied to the German states had little to do specifically with the states, but was rather the application of a commercial policy which was to be generally applied. It also aims to prove that there was little political motivation behind British commercial policy. One of the conclusions is indeed just how low the profile of the German states was in British policy-making. At the same time, an account is given of the ramifications of British commercial policy in the environment of the German states. It is shown that the 1850s represent
trade politics perspective question british_commercial policy_towards german_state field anglo_german relation remain function domestic history rather subject investigation right mid_century particular_interest german historians rather british british_foreign relation german_state predominantly approach use parameter set german historian study_attempt take much account british perspective end discuss place german_state wider field british_commercial policy information receive processed german_state way policy formulate show british_commercial policy applied german_state little specifically state rather application commercial_policy generally apply also_aim prove little political_motivation behind british_commercial policy conclusion indeed low profile german_state british_policy making time account_give ramification british_commercial policy environment german_state show represent