Edmund Burke and International Relations: The Commonwealth of Europe and the Crusade against the French Revolution

259 Pages·1995·22.57 MB·English

by  Jennifer M. Welsh (auth.)

EDMUND BURKE AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Edmund Burke and
International Relations
The Commonwealth of Europe and the
Crusade against the French Revolution
Jennifer M. Welsh
Cadieux Fellow, Policy Planning StafJ
Ministry 0/ Foreign Affairs, Canada
M
in association with
St. Martin's Press Palgrave Macmillan
© Jennifer M. Welsh 1995
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 1st edition 1995978-0-333-61214-9
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First published in Great Britain 1995 oy
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ISBN 978-1-349-39230-8 ISBN 978-0-230-37482-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1057/9780230374829
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
04 03 02 01 00 99 98 97 96 95
First published in the United States of Ameriea 1995 by
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ST. MARTIN'S PRESS, INC ..
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ISBN 978-0-312-12202-7
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Puhlication Data
Welsh, Jennifer M.
Edmund Burke and international relations I the commonwealth 01'
Europe and the erusade against the Freneh revolution I Jcnnifcr M.
Welsh.
p. em.
Includes bibliographieal referenees and index_
ISBN 978-0-312-12202-7
I. Burke, Edmund, 1729-1797-Views on international relations.
2. Peaee. 3. European cooperation. 4. France-History-Revolution.
1789-1 799. I. Ti tle.
JX2223.B87W45 1995
320.5'2'092--<1c20 94--7204
ClP
"There is no wise man in polities, with an important deeision to make,
who would not do weil to refresh his mind by diseussion with Burke's
mind."
Harold Laski, Address at Trinity College,
Dublin, March 1947

Contents
Acknowledgements IX
Sketch of Burke's Life Xl
Introduction 1
PART I BURKE'S THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL
SOCIETY
Introduction 23
1 Constitutionalism 25
2 Medievalism 49
3 The Commonwealth of Europe 70
PART II THE CONSERVATIVE CRUSADER
Introduction 89
4 Burke's Reaction to the French Revolution 93
5 Interventionism 115
6 Holy War 141
Conclusion 167
Notes and References 181
Bibliography 233
Index 242
Vll

Acknowledgements
This book would not have been possible without the assistance of the
Rhodes Trust and the Social Science and Humanities Research Coun
cil of Canada. I am especially grateful to the former for giving me the
generous opportunity to study at Oxford.
I would also like to thank my thesis directors, Dr Sudhir Hazaree
singh and Dr Andrew Hurrel!. The latter took over as my supervisor
mid-way through this project, and offered insightful and considered
advice throughout.
I am equally indebted to Dr Paul Langford, who eased my descent
into the eighteenth century, provided helpful hints on the original
sources, and kindly lent me editions of Burke's Writings and Speeches.
It is through his guidance that I have started to become a historian
as weIl as a political scientist.
I also express my gratitude to a number of colleagues and friends
who have read parts or all of this manuscript: Manjeet Ramgotra, who
led me through the Skinner debate; Richard and Marianne Hanson,
who detected some of my many mistakes; David Fidler, who shares my
interest in Burke and who sharpened my style and presentation; Dr
Iver B. Neumann, who added a "good European" perspective to Chap
ter 3; Dr Ngaire Woods, who provided constant encouragement and
improved my powers of persuasion; and Tim Dunne, who tirelessly
read through the entire manuscript and gave indispensable comments
on Wight's Three Traditions. Most importantly, I thank Anne-Sophie
Andre, who has been there from the very beginning with a much
needed "French angle" and a shoulder to lean on.
Because, as Burke would say, we "begin our affections in our fami
lies", I must also send my heartfelt thanks to my parents, who have
offered unwavering and unconditional support from afar.
Finally, I dedicate this book to the la te Dr lohn Vincent. It was his
article on Burke and seminar series on Classical Theories that pro
vided the original impetus for my project. Moreover, it was his good
humour wh ich helped to sustain my interest during those dark and
dreary "middle years"of thesis preparation. Those who know his work
will detect his imprint in the pages that follow. My only hope is that
according to lohn's standards, this book at least goes "half-way to
ward a good idea".
lENNIFER M. WELSH
ix