New Books Network Alex R. Tipei, "Unintended Nations: How French Liberals' Empire of Civilization Remade Southeast Europe and the Post-Napoleonic World" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2025)
Sep 15, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Alex R. Tipei, a Professor at the University of Montreal, delves into the French liberals' creation of an informal empire in Southeast Europe post-Napoleon. Tipei introduces the concept of 'civilization-speak' and illustrates how it shaped national identities. She explores French educational reforms and their lasting impact on Greece and Romania, while unraveling the complex interplay between liberalism and nationalism. Expect intriguing insights into the transnational narratives that emerged from this unique historical intersection.
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Civilization-Speak As A Multi-Tool
- "Civilization-speak" bundles ideas, institutions, and modernizing projects into a coherent discourse used by actors across borders.
- It links schools, hospitals, prisons, and print culture to a shared program of progress and discipline.
Domestic Reforms As International Strategy
- French moderate liberals used public-private institutions at home to demonstrate scientific, cultural authority and claim civilizational leadership abroad.
- Exporting schools and methods became a strategy to restore France's international prestige without military power.
Rosetti-Rosnovano’s School In Yash
- Nikolai Rosetti-Rosnovano visited France, copied a mutual-method school, and opened one in Yash with translated charts and teacher training.
- He flattered French patrons and used their support to expand schools across the region while boosting his own political prospects.
