Let's consider a scenario where Reformation does not succeed and the German states (and Western Europe in general) remain all Catholic.
In such scenario, would the German unification would be accelerated or would be delayed (maybe not happening at all)?
* Changes of scenario that we could consider that favour acceleration of unification:
- There is no Thirty Years War, at least as we know it.
- It is unlikely that concepts like 'Kulturkampf' would be ever developed.
- Prussia is less likely to form as we know it, so probably the Habsburgs would remain uncontested in the German sphere.
* Changes of scenario that we could consider that favour delay of unification:
- The Habsburgs were less prone to promote a unification based on nationalistic grounds, unless they are pressed for that (and there is probably no Prussia here for that).
- There is less room for militaristic actions withput an actor like Prussia, so the relations between the German states are likely to remain loose as long as stay 'voluntary'.
- It is less likely that a common enemy i.e. France would act as a unifying trigger.
Of course we could argue that, even if Prussia does not form, maybe other states like Saxony might assume the role of 'Northern counterpart' of Austria, even if not based on religious background but rather cultural/economic/whatever.
There is also the question about how tied or untied would some peripheral entities stay in such scenario, like the Netherlands, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Bohemia, Hungary etc.
Thoughts?
In such scenario, would the German unification would be accelerated or would be delayed (maybe not happening at all)?
* Changes of scenario that we could consider that favour acceleration of unification:
- There is no Thirty Years War, at least as we know it.
- It is unlikely that concepts like 'Kulturkampf' would be ever developed.
- Prussia is less likely to form as we know it, so probably the Habsburgs would remain uncontested in the German sphere.
* Changes of scenario that we could consider that favour delay of unification:
- The Habsburgs were less prone to promote a unification based on nationalistic grounds, unless they are pressed for that (and there is probably no Prussia here for that).
- There is less room for militaristic actions withput an actor like Prussia, so the relations between the German states are likely to remain loose as long as stay 'voluntary'.
- It is less likely that a common enemy i.e. France would act as a unifying trigger.
Of course we could argue that, even if Prussia does not form, maybe other states like Saxony might assume the role of 'Northern counterpart' of Austria, even if not based on religious background but rather cultural/economic/whatever.
There is also the question about how tied or untied would some peripheral entities stay in such scenario, like the Netherlands, Switzerland, Northern Italy, Bohemia, Hungary etc.
Thoughts?
