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Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of maps
- Acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations
- Map 1 Geography and politics: Prussia and her neighbours in 1792
- Map 2 Geography and politics: Prussia and her neighbours in 1795
- Map 3 Geography and politics: Prussia and her neighbours in 1803
- 1 Introduction
- Part I The structures
- 2 The structure of Prussian politics during the early reign of Frederick William III
- 3 Problem areas of Prussian policy and politics: the centres of attention abroad, 1797–1804
- 4 Problem areas of Prussian policy and politics: the centres of attention at home, 1797–1804
- Part II The events
- Part III The responses
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - The structure of Prussian politics during the early reign of Frederick William III
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 October 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of maps
- Acknowledgments
- List of abbreviations
- Map 1 Geography and politics: Prussia and her neighbours in 1792
- Map 2 Geography and politics: Prussia and her neighbours in 1795
- Map 3 Geography and politics: Prussia and her neighbours in 1803
- 1 Introduction
- Part I The structures
- 2 The structure of Prussian politics during the early reign of Frederick William III
- 3 Problem areas of Prussian policy and politics: the centres of attention abroad, 1797–1804
- 4 Problem areas of Prussian policy and politics: the centres of attention at home, 1797–1804
- Part II The events
- Part III The responses
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
From discussion to decision: the development of the decision-making process in Prussia and its underlying assumptions
The head of state must imbue the machinery with an independent spirit; his words should resonate through every string of the instrument like an electric shock.
Almost from its very conception in the early modern period, the Prussian political system was characterised by an emphasis on decision. In institutional terms this found expression in the creation of the Geheimer Rat (Privy Council) in 1604, which was a direct response to severe foreign-political pressure upon the state. It signalled a move away from simple, untrammelled princely self-government to a more formal decision-making process which coupled the sovereign's will to an advisory body. The Geheimer Rat was thus the first example of the constant Prussian search to harness the information, advice and expertise of many to the decisiveness of one man. For the ultimate power of decision rested always with the prince who, though he did not always attend the meetings of the Rat, had complete power to determine its agenda and had the last say in all matters. Towards the end of the century the Great Elector summed up the reasoning behind the Rat in the following advice to his successor:
Do not decide anything important, or that which requires secrecy, in the presence of advisors. Rather, you should retire to reflect on the matter and let the one or the other privy councillor or secretary come to you and weigh all opinions again. Then make your decision, so that you are like bees who draw the best nectar out of a flower.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Impact of NapoleonPrussian High Politics, Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Executive, 1797–1806, pp. 35 - 66Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997