Prussianism and the primacy of foreign policies in the political thinking of Droysen

Abstract

This article examines Droysen’s political vision from his account on the foreign policy of Frederick the Great. The focus here is specifically Droysen’s application of the State of Peace’s (Friedenstaat) concept on his analysis of two political situations: firstly, the Prussia of Frederick II, and secondly, the Prussia of Bismarck. It also proposes an interpretation of Droysen’s supposed Bismarckism, i.e., his supposed adhesion to Bismarck’s foreign policy. In this sense, it explores the rather hyperbolic hypothesis that it wasn’t so much Droysen that became Bismarckian, but rather Bismarck who became “Droysenian”.