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How Did The French Revolution Influence Raison D Etat?

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International Relations between the numerous European nations experienced a metamorphosis within the 17th and 19th century. Within this period, a conceptual policy known as raison d’état was developed by Cardinal de Richelieu of France. With raison d’état, a nation may seek its own self-interest in the presence of other nations, which create a counter-balance-of-power. In as such, the fundamental attributes of a nation-state emerge upon raison d’états exploitation in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. A nation state is comprised of a definitive territory with internationally-recognized borders, legitimacy in political government, a collective national identity, economic stability, and military power. Throughout Europe, France became one of the first European-nation-states; simply because the French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte, pursued a relentless quest of legitimacy, imperialism, and universal principle. The key factors which inspired France in their revolution are the idealistic associations of a republican government, liberty, fraternity, and equality. Accordingly, France pursued a hegemonic position in Europe by pronouncing this conceptual leap through international relations under Napoleon Bonaparte’s implementation of Raison d’état. The Napoleonic Wars produced a series of boundary orientated conflicts over the borders each European state possessed, such as Prussia, Russia, Holland, Great Britain, and the German confederate states. The principle of a defined nation-state originates from the 17th century Treaty of Westphalia, which gave rise to …show more content…

Through raison d’état, Napoleon Bonaparte sought hegemon over Europe by seeking France’s national self-interest. The effects of which altered international-relations and diplomatic systems engineered by historical figures

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