Forbidden Federalism

<p>The key concept of this title is that of federalism understood as a unifying factor for the peoples of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the First World War even those resolutely in favor of dismantling Austria-Hungary recognized that the Danubian area required some sort of federal unity if only for economic reasons. One of the main actors of the narrative is Karl of Habsburg-Lorraine the last Emperor-King of Austria-Hungary. As soon as Austria-Hungary fell apart Karl started actively to try to reconstruct his empire by writing a plan for a new con/federal monarchy and by contacting the pope and the leaders of the Entente regarding this plan.</p><p>B��csi's book is a study in virtual history what might have been and reading it one is tempted to follow this line of thought as well. The shadowy figures that cross its pages-the Marquis de Castellone who sought to win over the Foreign Office to Karl's plans the better-known Stepan Radi�� who played with federal schemes in an effort to advance the Croatian cause or the obscure swindler Karol Bulissa-all failed in their attempts. The present configuration in Central Europe with the emergence of the Visegrad bloc and disintegration in</p><p>the Balkans seems to make Zolt��n B��csi's work more relevant than ever.</p>