The pomp and circumstance that accompanied the July 2011 funeral of Otto von Habsburg, the son of the last reigning Habsburg ruler, demonstrate that Habsburg nostalgia is alive and well. Some of this longing for a bygone era began in the 1980s as Central European intellectuals searched for alternative descriptions for parts of Eastern Europe and began to celebrate the Habsburg monarchy. Scholars followed suit and have provided a great deal of literature about the positive economic, social, and even political policies of the monarchy. In many ways, the book and the website under review continue this tradition in Habsburg scholarship.
Lothar Höbelt, a professor of modern history at the University of Vienna and a former advisor to the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), sets out in his short biography of Francis Joseph to present a sketch of the political history of an era, as well as to challenge its historiography. He knows that his short portrayal is not the definitive word on any issue, but he hopes that his summary will encourage contemplation and more research. The style employed by Höbelt may be somewhat polemical, but he admits that to be concise at times requires being provocative. He begins by agreeing with many historians that the central problem of the monarchy was its multinational composition, yet he does not aim to show where the monarchy went wrong, but rather to demonstrate how the regime manipulated certain problems to relativize others.
The book begins in the year 1848 when Francis Joseph took over the leadership of the Austrian Empire. On page 2, Höbelt disagrees with tradition by arguing that there was no revolution in Vienna in 1848, but rather a mere collapse of the old order, and he gives a great deal of responsibility to Francis Joseph for establishing an institutional framework that survived into the twentieth century. The secret of Francis Joseph's art of governing, according to Höbelt, was his ability to prevent the dissolution of the monarchy's common institutions by maintaining a well-tempered dissatisfaction among the nationalities.
In Chapter Two, Höbelt examines the “neo-absolutist” regime after 1851, when “normalization” returned, amnesties were granted, and “the emperor danced Hungarian dances again” (13). In his polemical style, Höbelt argues immediately that the prefix “neo” was superfluous, since it was the first time that the monarchy was governed absolutely. He describes the post-1848 regime instead as a Modernisierungsdiktatur. In the mid nineteenth century, the Habsburgs opposed any kind of division in their empire, and they hoped to prevent a kleindeutsch solution to the German question, which would exclude them from Germany. Yet in 1866, Germany was constituted without Austria, and a year later the Dual Monarchy replaced the Austrian Empire. Höbelt reminds us that Francis Joseph's attitude toward Hungary was one of “respect and resignation”: According to the emperor-king, “a parliamentary government is possible in Hungary, but not in Austria” (126).
The focus of the book is on Habsburg domestic policy, but Höbelt does not ignore the monarchy's foreign policy, which he describes as “imperial prerogatives” (139). And by the early twentieth century, it was Francis Joseph's orientation toward Germany—supported by the majority of Germans, Hungarians, and Poles in the monarchy—that determined its fate in World War I. In 1917, a year after Francis Joseph's death, the enemy of Austria-Hungary, that is Russia, was defeated; but as Höbelt reminds us, it was impossible for the monarchy to leave the war, which left it with only one option: “simply to collapse” (152).
Höbelt's portrayal of Francis Joseph's rule from 1848 to 1916 is a positive one. The economic achievements were noteworthy, and in many ways these successes minimized national tensions, according to Höbelt. The Ausgleich with Hungary also is portrayed as an auspicious move in order to maintain political stability in the eastern half of the monarchy. In his controversial style, Höbelt proposes at the end of the book that the monarchy was not brought down because of nationalism, but rather it was “destroyed because of its overestimation of nationalism” (158).
The website, “The World of the Habsburgs,” is a very different medium than Höbelt's short biography, yet it shares Höbelt's enthusiasm for things Habsburg. It is a virtual exhibition, commissioned and funded by Schloss Schönbrunng Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. (led by Franz Sattlecker) and constructed by a number of individuals, including historians from the University of Vienna (Franz X. Eder and Karl Vocelka). It contains text, more than 1,000 images, and a few sound recordings. The original website appeared in German, but there now exists an English-language version as well. The goal seems to have been to reach out to as large and varied an audience as possible: The website was designed for tourists, schoolchildren, students, and academics. In many ways, it is an online encyclopedia of Habsburg history.
There are different ways to navigate “The World of the Habsburgs.” The website states that one can enter via three different levels: via time, via space, and via personalities. The points of entry are a timeline (from 1278 to 1918), a map of Europe, a genealogical table of the Habsburgs, and a virtual reading room. These multiple entry points may help if one is looking for something specific, but they do not offer a clear structure of how to navigate the exhibit. There is no obvious beginning, middle, or end, other than chronological time.
To begin, one must place the cursor somewhere on the main timeline; then, depending on whether “portraits,” “timeline,” “map,” or “genealogical table” is highlighted, the website presents options. For example, if the cursor on the main timeline is placed on the nineteenth century under “portraits,” images appear of twelve different Habsburg figures from that time period. If you then click on “Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary Rudolf,” for example, you receive a short description, another portrait, and a list of fifteen linked, related themes. The point of entry timeline in a way duplicates the main timeline; and if one has that highlighted, then there are additional links under people, objects, events, locations, society, economy, and art history. If “map” is highlighted, then a map of the Habsburg Empire in 1814 appears with linked portraits on it. The “genealogical table” shows the family tree with similar portraits and links. Underneath all of these entry points, except the genealogical table, are themes for the selected period. For the nineteenth century, there are 52 themes, which if you click on one will take you to more texts and images. The last point of entry, “reading room,” seems to be unconnected to the main timeline. If it is highlighted, then one needs to choose between themes, aspects, and periods; and under those three headings are many options with additional material.
This virtual exhibit has great potential, but one must know what one wants in advance. Unlike Höbelt's book or any other similar text, the website does not give you direction; it instead provides you immediately with a great deal of information. For many users, this could be confusing. Of course, the excellent images and graphics are informational, but the educational value is not as obvious as one would hope. Again, it is an excellent encyclopedia.
The two pieces of historical scholarship under review are quite different, even if they both celebrate the world of the Habsburgs. Höbelt hopes to challenge our understanding of Austria under Francis Joseph and perhaps alter that understanding. “The World of the Habsburgs” simply wants to provide information. Therefore, they are really designed for different audiences. Despite the fact that Höbelt's book is a short overview of Francis Joseph, it is not a text designed for students or those with little knowledge of the region. The virtual exhibit, on the other hand, would be of most benefit to students, except that there is little directional guidance. The texts in the exhibit are well written and nicely translated, but there are mistakes. Under “The Compromise with Hungary, 1867,” it states that the “two halves of the empire were united in the person of the Emperor and by a common finance and foreign policy.” Yet the empire ceased to exist in 1867, and the two halves also shared the ministry of defense. All scholars of the region should welcome both the Höbelt text and the new virtual exhibit, even if for different purposes.
