Paradoxes of Peace in Nineteenth Century Europe

'Peace' is often simplistically assumed to be war's opposite, and as such is not examined closely or critically idealized in the literature of peace studies, its crucial role in the justification of war is often overlooked. Starting from a critical view that the value of 'restoring peace' or 'keeping peace' is, and has been, regularly used as a pretext for military intervention, this book traces the conceptual history of peace in nineteenth century legal and political practice. It explores the role of the value of peace in shaping the public rhetoric and legitimizing action in general international relations, international law, international trade, colonialism, and armed conflict. Departing from the assumption that there is no peace as such, nor can there be, it examines the contradictory visions of peace that arise from conflict.

These conflicting and antagonistic visions of peace are each linked to a set of motivations and interests as well as to a certain vision of legitimacy within the international realm. Each of them inevitably conveys the image of a specific enemy that has to be crushed in order to peace being installed. This book highlights the contradictions and paradoxes in nineteenth century discourses and practices of peace, particularly in Europe.

Thomas Hippler, Associate Professor, Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), University of Lyon, France,Milos Vec,Professor of European Legal and Constitutional History, University of Vienna

Thomas Hippler is Associate Professor at the Institute for Political Studies (Sciences Po) at the University of Lyon, France. He studied History, Philosophy, and Music in Berlin, Paris, Florence, and Berkeley. He is senior research associate on the Oxford programme 'The Changing Character of War'.


Milos Vec is a jurist and Chair of European legal and constitutional history at the University of Vienna. He was a group leader at the Max Planck Institute for European Legal History in Frankfurt am Main, and he has held teaching positions at the universities of Bonn, Tubingen, and Constance. He was co-director with Thomas Hippler of Paradoxes of Peace in 19th Century Europe, a project group at the University of Helsinki. He specializes in the history of international law, particularly in the 19th century.