1995/03/01 by James McHugh · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #Central European national history #Central European and Russian historical studies #European Political History Analysis #Emperor #Presidency #Parallels #Politics #Democracy #Enlightenment #Political science #Law #Political economy #Sociology #Philosophy #Ancient history #History #Theology #Economics
paper · doi:10.1016/0362-3319(95)90020-9
openalex publication_date 1995/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/03/03
The Austrian and Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II, has been proclaimed by some scholars as having been the “last of the enlightened despots.” However, it is possible to draw parallels between the political and theoretical climate of Austria during the Age of Enlightenment and a similar climate that prevailed during the final years of the Soviet Union, during the presidency of Mikhail Gorbachev. While many specific conditions, policies, and results of these two societies and leaders are not historically compatable, their overall approach and tone share striking characteristics which, though broad, merit further consideration. From such an analysis it may be possible to reach certain broad conclusions regarding the nature of political leadership and liberal democratic reform.