Social Sciences En Politieke En Sociale Wetenschappen
European History
Summary
Summary European History L4: Peace and War
5 views 0 purchase
Course
European History
Institution
Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
Abbreviations:
DRTR: divine right to rule
E-G: Estates-General
CC: Catholic Church
AR: Ancien regime
DL: Germany (Deutschland)
WS: Welfare state
SD: Social democracy
SDs: social democrats
CDs: Christian democrats
O1H: on the one hand
OOH: on the other hand
RW: right-wing
LW: left-w...
Social Sciences en Politieke en Sociale Wetenschappen
European History
All documents for this subject (24)
Seller
Follow
emmamarchal
Reviews received
Content preview
4: Peace and war
Content:
1. Congress of Vienna system of IR (1815-1850s)
2. Breakdown of the ‘Vienna system’ (1850s-1870s)
3. A ‘balancing of antagonisms’ system (1870-1914)
1. Congress of Vienna system of IR (1815-1850s)
The century of peace
After WW1, looking back on C19 as:
La belle epoque (The beautiful era)
- Named so in retrospect; contrasting the horrors of WW1; emphasising la joie de vivre.
- Period characterised by
- Economic prosperity
- Regional peace (and peace on the European continent)
- Flourishing of the arts
- Scientific and technological developments
- Optimism
- Social change
Asa result of meetings of different states in 1815, a new system of IR is created, making the continent stable and pacified.
● Warfare had been a way of life in Europe for centuries.
○ Napoleonic warfare and doctrines of ‘total war’.
■ Changes to the mentalities of people.
- In the MA:
Belief in the ‘just war’ theory - only wage war with another state if you have a just cause.
Human life is too costly, given by God.
Moderate attitude towards warfare, something that happens, to be mindful of, but definitely not heroic.
- Under Napoleon & through process of state-building and N-S formation:
Standing armies were developed, a constant profession, receiving a salary (not quickly, short-term rallying troops when there was war).
Military training, education, philosophies of warfare, …
“Total warfare” - less hesitant to wage war, less attached to the principle of proportionality (not wasting human life).
Emphasis on total, annihilating war → crush your enemies completely.
Importance of thinkers like Von Clausewitz (general and military theorist)
Little respect for human life, crush completely so they cannot retaliate } Complete shift in thinking.
Von Clausewitz: no need to make a distinction between civilian targets/settings and military infrastructure.
==> Doctrine of total war in (beginning) C19 becomes very hostile and prone to bloodshed.
Something very antagonistic; hostile until 1815;
Then new period:
● In contrast, period 1815-1914:
○ Only a small number of wars; limited impact and duration; involving only a handful European wars.
○ Mainly bilateral conflicts - limited set of countries (ex. German and Italian reunification).
○ Mainly outside the European continent, in colonies.
■ As a result of industrialisation, new means of transport, a revolution in terms of firepower (guns) → Europeans
are sailing around the globe, colonising, fighting out their competition abroad.
● Estimate: 1815-1914: number of total war deaths was 7x less than in 18C.
==> Why people looked at C19 as a relatively tranquil period.
Congress of Vienna
A system of IR that helps pacify the continent, but also stabilise domestic relationships.
1815: Congress of Vienna (Peace Treaty)
● France + the Great victors (Prussia, Russia, Austria, UK)
○ Thanks to De Taleron (French diplomat), France is brokered in as one of the negotiating parties. ]- already novel.
■ => Emergence of modern diplomacy.
Before: you lose a war → you’re out, no negotiation.
● Delegates from Sweden, Portugal, Spain.
Two main aims:
, ● Restore international peace
Create a new equilibrium among the Great European powers to prevent future war.
● Restore domestic stability
Provide a system of checks and balances against revolutions from laboring classes.
Instrumentalisation of monarchic dynasties: DTRT + family ties across Europe (mutual support).
Why was France not punished more severely?
● Control of French power
- Reduced to roughly size of 1792
- Creation of two buffer states: Kingdom of the NL and Kingdom of Piedmont and Sardinia.
==> France = reduced but still a major power.
Still a force to be reckoned with.
- Fear that a punished France would seek revenge.
- A breakup of France could strengthen one country to the extent that it becomes threatening in turn.
● The final declaration was the result of two committees:
- Committee of 5 great powers: France, UK, Russia, Prussia, Austria.
- Committee of 8 great powers: France, UK, Russia, Prussia, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Sweden.
● Major diplomatic event:
216 political leaders (--> large scale negotiation), 200, 000 visitors (popular voices).
Dozens of commissions collecting data and info, working on the abolition of slavery, the unification of the German states., …
Many celebrations, festivals, re-enactment of battles, concerts.
1.1. Congress of Vienna: IR system of “acting in concert”
(In harmony)
● Established a new international order, based on “acting in concert”.
○ Directory of the Great Powers: regular meetings devoted to the common European interest, the prosperity of the people
and the maintenance of peace.
○ Treaty of the Holy Alliance: Russia, Prussia, Austria
■ Promise to protect each other against attacks from other countries (esp. UK and France as the new dominant
powers in Europe).
1) Recognition of international boundaries and state sovereignty
- Recognition of borders (1815); multilateral agreements
- If there is a need for retaliating against another country, it should be done through a multilateral agreement.
- A country holds control over its own territory and cannot be invaded for no reason.
- Earlier: at a king’s death, all his international treaties had to be renewed.
- Not an automatic renewal, because the state was so linked to a person and not continuous structures.
- Agreements between kings were very vulnerable.
- Now: a system of international rights is established.
- Boundaries not simply drawn between two countries, but included in international treaties.
==> Created stability.
2) Regulated war as an instrument for peace
● Stakes of competition changes: spheres of influence, not territorial enlargement. (+ colonial policies as competition.
○ War was no longer meant to annihilate the enemy, but an instrument for peace.
○ Lesson from the Napoleonic wars: there was little to gain from expansionist politics on the European Continent. Constant
warfare was devastating to the economies.
○ Mutual protection clauses (against revolutions) and limitations on military interventions (1820).
3) Creation of equally powerful countries
Ex. with France.
4) Compliance ensured by dual hegemony:
● UK (‘Pax Britannica’): economic, military and colonial dominance; strong naval fleet.
Countered by:
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller emmamarchal. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.92. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
