European Unity League

Sir Max Waechter and the European Idea, 1904-1924

AvUlrich Tiedau

Inbunden, Engelska, 2026

1 225 kr

Beställningsvara. Skickas inom 5-8 vardagar. Fri frakt över 249 kr.

Fler format och utgåvor

E-bok

1 335 kr

E-bok

1 335 kr

Beskrivning

This book uncovers a largely forgotten early vision of European unity that emerged in Britain before the First World War. By tracing the remarkable career of Sir Max Waechter (1837–1924), entrepreneur, philanthropist and the British representative of the Nobel brothers’ Caspian oil interests, it reveals how British actors were among the earliest in arguing that Europe’s growing rivalries could be addressed through closer economic cooperation and political understanding. The study shows that ideas of a federated Europe were already being energetically developed, debated and promoted before 1914.Central to the book is Waechter’s creation of the European Unity League, whose ambitious programme provides a fresh lens to reassess the intellectual and political climate of the pre-war years. Drawing on extensive archival research, the volume reconstructs Waechter’s 1906 manifesto to King Edward VII, his extraordinary diplomatic tour across the continent aboard the former Austrian archducal yacht Rovenska and his ability to secure audiences with most reigning heads of state, despite opposition from the Foreign Office. It follows how these efforts led to the 1909 Inaugural Congress of the European Federation in Rome, co-organized with the Italian pacifist Prince di Cassano (1855–1926), and the formal establishment of the League in London in 1913.Although the outbreak of war curtailed its activities, the League stands as one of the earliest mass movements for European unity, anticipating Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi’s better-known interwar Pan-European Union by two decades and a world war.By situating Waechter’s campaign within broader British and European debates about armaments, decline and the future of the continent, the book offers a new understanding of the roots of the European idea and of Britain’s unexpected role in shaping it. Written accessibly, it will appeal to readers interested in modern European history, international politics and the life of a visionary yet overlooked figure.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum:2026-07-09
Mått:158 x 238 x 30 mm
Vikt:520 g
Format:Inbunden
Språk:Engelska
Antal sidor:344
Förlag:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
ISBN:9781350273290

Utforska kategorier

Mer om författaren

Ulrich Tiedau is Professor of European History at University College London (UCL) and an Associate Director of the UCL Centre for Digital Humanities. Recent publications include Pieter Geyl and Britain (with Stijn van Rossem, 2022).

Recensioner i media

An extremely thorough account of the life and times of Sir Max Waechter, based on very extensive archive research in many countries, including a chapter on the ‘popular’ book and newspaper trade at the time, and a business history of the early oil industry. Amongst the myriad of societies and conferences promoting European union before and after the First World War, Waechter’s work is seldom more than mentioned, and Tiedau’s study shows how important the British contribution was to those international debates.

Innehållsförteckning

1. Introduction2. Sir Max Waechter’s early life and career in business (1837–1904)3. The European Unity League (1904–24)4. Literary Propaganda for the European Unity League (1912–14)5. The First Congress of the European Federation, Rome 19096. The European Unity League’s afterlife7. The British Grandfather of the European Movement8. EpilogueAppendix: Selected documentsNotesArchival SourcesWorks CitedIndex

Mer från samma författare

Re-Mapping Centre and Periphery

Tessa Hauswedell, Axel Körner, Ulrich Tiedau

Häftad, 2019

613 kr

Pieter Geyl and Britain

Stijn van Rossem, Ulrich Tiedau

Inbunden, 2022

1 478 kr

Du kanske också är intresserad av