The Life and Death of States: Central Europe and the Transformation of Modern Sovereignty

The Life and Death of States is a groundbreaking work of intellectual history that delves into the complexities of sovereignty in the Habsburg Empire.

Through a sweeping analysis of constitutional experimentation, legal philosophy, and postimperial sovereignty, Wheatley sheds light on how this multinational polity became a crucible for our contemporary world order.

The book traces the history of sovereignty over one hundred tumultuous years, revealing how a regime of nation-states theoretically equal under international law emerged from the ashes of a dynastic empire.

With a unique perspective on the relationship between sovereignty and time, Wheatley illustrates how the many deaths and precarious lives of the region's states expose the tension between the law's need for continuity and history's volatility.

This comprehensive and original analysis is sure to captivate scholars and enthusiasts alike, offering a fresh perspective on the ever-evolving concept of sovereignty.