The ministry of foreign affairs of the Habsburg empire: history of establishment, recruitment and training principles

Introduction. The article deals with the basic principles of the formation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Habsburg Empire, including the process of training professional staff in special educational institutions, social, national composition of the diplomatic and consular service, and their structure.

Materials and Methods. In the process of working on the topic the works of foreign and domestic authors and historical sources were utilized, including materials   from the collections of the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Empire, memoirs of O. Chernin, W. von Bulow and the study of O. Yasi.  

Analysis. The article notes that since the 18th century, the Balkans and the Middle East have become the focus of the foreign policy activities of the Austrian Empire. In 1720, in response to the prevailing circumstances, the empire established a state institution to coordinate foreign policy and an academy of Oriental languages. This initiative aimed to address the shortage of professional staff within foreign policy department of Austria. Until the mid-19th century, the diplomatic and consular services were under the jurisdiction of different departments, after which the consulates were transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The diplomatic and consular services were established on the principles inherent in the state apparatus of the Habsburg Empire as a whole: supra-national and supra-estate nature, loyalty to the Habsburg dynasty. The aristocracy, nobility and bourgeoisie regarded diplomatic and consular service as a prestigious form of professional activity. While there was formal equality of service in the foreign policy department of the Habsburg Empire, it was dominated by members of the aristocracy and nobility. During the period of dualism Hungary achieved an increase in the number of its citizens in embassies, consulates of the Empire abroad and in the central apparatus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, a significant reform of the staff training system for the Austro-Hungarian foreign policy department was initiated by A. Goluchowski. This reform aimed to enhance students’ practical knowledge and increase the specialization of disciplines. By the First World War, the Habsburg Empire created an extensive network of embassies and consulates to expand its influence in various regions of the world.

Results. By 1914 Austria-Hungary was able to create a professional foreign policy department, which, through training in specialized educational institutions and passing the appropriate examination, attracted to its ranks representatives of various nations and social groups, with the aristocracy and nobility dominating. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Habsburg Empire consistently defended the interests of the dynasty and the Empire, seeking to maintain its status as a “great power”.

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