Die Gleichheit der Staaten im Deutschen Bund

Overview & Synopsis

Although the member states of the German Confederation exhibited significant differences, all member states formally enjoyed equal rights pursuant to Art. 3 of the German Federal Act and Art. 2 of the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna. This thesis examines whether, and to what extent, special legal positions nevertheless existed for the medium-sized states, both within this group and in relation to larger and smaller states. The study thus contributes to a more precise understanding of the structure of the German Confederation and focuses on the legal management of the heterogeneity among its member states. It also opens up comparative perspectives for modern confederations of states such as the European Union.