University of West Bohemia, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Department of Historical Sciences
Aim: After the Great Powers enforced the opening of the Japanese ports in the middle of the 50s of the 19th century most of the Great Powers followed a cautious policy. The statesmen in London, Washington, St. Petersburg and Paris were aware of the opportunities (especially economic) in Japan. However, they also appreciated the competition, which they had to challenge. Their diplomacy therefore carefully observed the internal situation of Japan, where the power and authority of the Tokugawa bakufu diminished. The British policy also had to challenge several crisis and problems connected with the anti-foreign movement, which culminated in a series of attacks against the British (and other foreign) nationals and their property. With regard to the fact, that these incidents were caused by the members of the anti-Shogunate clans, Britain initially tried to cooperate with the central government in Edo. France went even further and participated on the modernization of the Tokugawa army and supported the Shogunate government. However due to the policy of the bakufu, the British started to concentrate on the support of the anti-Tokugawa opposition. Britain and France therefore became rivals in Japan. This competition continued even during the first decades of the Meiji regime. In that time Britain contributed to the modernization of the Japanese fleet. France sent its army instructors to Japan and was engaged in the armament of the Japanese armed forces, although it had to challenge a competition of other European countries (especially Prussia) during this process. Both countries therefore significantly contributed to the modernization of Japan. On the other hand, other Great Powers had much more limited goals. The United States concentrated on their economic interest and Russia tried to gain territorial gains – especially the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, Hokkaido and the islands in the Tsushima strait – which was hindered by Britain. This project will therefore focus on the comparison of the influence and politics of the Great Powers in Japan in the second half of the 19th and the analysis of their interests and methods which they used to enforce them.
University of West Bohemia, Faculty of Philosophy and Arts, Department of Historical Sciences
Aim: The course of events in the Apennines in 1815–48 was influenced to a great extent by the policies of European Powers, in particular by the Austrian Empire, which possessed there Lombardy and Venetia and exerted great influence over other regions of the peninsula and protected local rulers against the “threat” of liberalism and nationalism. The conservative policy of Austrian Chancellor Metternich had considerable consequences not only for political but also social development in Italy. Italian affairs attracted the attention of all the Great Powers, and the struggle for predominance over this part of the Continent influenced not only their own relations but also the functioning of the European State System as a whole. Nevertheless, no book in any language has been dedicated to Metternich’s Italian policy in 1830–48 and the number of articles is extremely low. Together with the lack of scientific literature a historian dealing with the topic has had to overcome another obstacle: a considerable number of biased allegations. This project will attempt to redress both of these issues.