Autokratické tendence německého císaře Viléma II. ve vztahu k legislativnímu procesu Říšského sněmu (1888–1900)

Abstract

Abstract

The study “Autocratic Tendencies of German Emperor Wilhelm II in Relation to the Legislative Process of the Reichstag (1888–1900)” analyzes the constitutional and political framework of the German Empire during the reign of Wilhelm II, focusing on his approach to the legislative process and interaction with the Reichstag. It examines whether the emperor’s attitude toward parliament evolved in connection with personnel changes in the highest German and Prussian offices and how the dual identity of “emperor-king” influenced governance. The paper discusses mechanisms of pressure and circumvention applied by Wilhelm II toward the Reichstag, including rhetoric, court networks, and personnel policy, and evaluates their limits within the federal structure. It also addresses the concept of “personal rule” and its historiographical interpretations, contrasting rhetorical antiparliamentarism with practical dependence on parliamentary majorities. The analysis combines micro- and macro-historical perspectives, using constitutional texts, parliamentary records, and correspondence of key actors. The conclusion emphasizes that despite autocratic impulses, the emperor’s power was structurally constrained, and legislative outcomes depended on negotiation and compromise, contributing to the gradual parliamentarization of decision-making in the German Empire.