This research focus aims to link the field of history of the Habsburg Monarchy to that of International History, which represents a newer theoretical-methodological approach for transcending traditional borders. This programmatic combination is exceptional in both the Austrian and international scholarly worlds, premising an understanding of the Habsburg Monarchy as a state both within its own frontiers and the international environment. While International History is concerned with moving beyond national perspectives, it does not deny the significance of the state in its various historical manifestations in the sense of a commonwealth. Starting in particular with the insights offered by the history of diplomacy and foreign policy, this research focus is characterized by a variety of approaches including those drawn from political, social, economic, and cultural history, providing in this way multiple perspectives on the history of the Habsburg Monarchy in its international setting.