The elaboration of the study is based on dispatches of French envoys on the Vienna court, which reflect reform activities of Emperor Joseph II. The first section describes the theory of reforms, innovations and modernizations as it was conceived by 18th century authors and questions, which they asked in connection with benefits and “dangers” of the reform activities. The main part concentrates on a debate between the French foreign minister and his envoys regarding a potential success of modernizing projects of French enlighteners based on observation of enlightening reforms implemented by Joseph II in the Habsburg monarchy and by his brother Peter Leopold in Tuscany. Special attention is paid to debates over the reformer’s influence on the success of the reforms and results of “monitoring” the public opinion as regards the benefit of the introduced changes and methods of their implementation.
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