Metternich and Bismarck

Bismarck was funny and intelligent. He was, however, a nationalist.

Dirk said:

Bismarck was funny and intelligent. He was, however, a nationalist.

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Right. He succeeded in unifying Germany, which had consisted of hundreds of separate principalities. Bismarck was also known as the Iron Chancellor. He was a man of steel. Metternich was an international diplomat and served in high positions at the height of Napoleon's reign in Europe. Metternich managed to preside over the redrawing of the European map after Napoleon had been defeated. That had been in Metternich's capacity of Foreign Affairs Minister of Austria. During the Liberal Revolution in Austria of 1848, Metternich was forced to flee from Austria and spent time n exile in England and Brussels until 1851 when he returned to Vienna.

With regard to the United States, one of Metternich's greatest admirers was Henry Kissinger. Kissinger did his PhD on: A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh and the Problems of the Peace 1812-1822. On the European negotiations towards the achievement of a balance of power after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, Kissinger praised Metternich's role in holding together the crumbling Austrian Empire.

So in conclusion I would say Metternich was an international diplomat, and a role model for international negotiations whereas Bismarck was more of a nationalist and a very strong leader that unified Germany. He was the first Chancellor of the German Empire from 1871 until 1890, however also played an important role in international politics.

Sources: Wikipedia:
Otto Von Bismarck: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck
Prince Von Metternich: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klemens_Wenzel_von_Metternich