The Concert of Europe: A Study in German and British International Theory, 1815-1914 0582482623, 9780582482623

Table of contents :
Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
Part One. German Ideas of the Concert of Europe
Introduction
One. The Conservative Theory
Two. The Progressive Theory
Three. The Balance of Power THeory
Part Two. British Ideas of the Concert of Europe
Introduction
One. The Conservative Theory
Two. The Balance of Power Theory
Three. The Progressive Theory
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index

Citation preview

T H E CONCERT OF EUROPE: A S tu d y in German and British International Theory

1815-1914

Carsten Holbraad

N ew Y o rk Bames & N oble, Inc.

© Longm an G rou p L im ited 1970 First published in the United States, 1971 by Barnes & N oble, Inc. ISBN $89 04110 6 A ll righ ts reserved. N o part o f this publication m ay be produced, stored in a retrieval system , o r transm itted in any form o r b y any m eans, electron ic, m echanical, p h otocop yin g, recordin g, o r oth erw ise, w ith ou t the p rior perm ission o f th e co p yrigh t ow ner.

Printed in G reat B ritain b y T h e C am elot Press L td ., L on d on and Southam pton

CONTENTS

PREFACE

IX

IN T R O D U C TIO N

P a rt O n e: g e r m a n

id e a s

I of

th e

con cert of

EUROPE IN T R O D U C T IO N

O ne T H E C O N S E R V A T IV E T H E O R Y 1. D E V E L O P M E N T

Austrian contributions Prussian and other contributions 2.

c r it ic ism

The moderate constitutionalists The radical liberals The national liberals The revolutionaries

Tw o T H E P R O G R E S S IV E T H E O R Y

13

ij

15 15 34 44 45 48 54 58

62

1. D E V E L O P M E N T

6z

2. T H E H E G E L I A N A N T I T H E S I S

JZ

T h iee T H E B A L A N C E O F P O W E R T H E O R Y 1. D E V E L O P M E N T 2. D I S S E N T

80 8o IO7

The C oncert o f E urope Part T w o:

b r it ish

id e a s

of

th e

con cert

of

EUROPE IN T R O D U C T IO N

One T H E C O N S E R V A T I V E T H E O R Y 1. S U P P O R T

Dynastic conservatism Territorial conservatism 2. C R I T I C I S M Tory criticism o fdynastic conservatism Whig criticism o fdynastic conservatism , Radicalcriticism o f territorialconservatism Two T H E B A L A N C E O F P O W E R T H E O R Y

II9 II9 H9

121 124 124 127 131 136

1. D E V E L O P M E N T

136

2. C R I T I C I S M

153

Three T H E P R O G R E S S I V E T H E O R Y I. D E V E L O P M E N T

Humanitarian ideas 2. C R I T I C I S M

162 162 162 176 198

B IB L IO G R A P H Y

205 207

IN D E X

23!

CO N C L U SIO N

vi

” 7

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

W e are grateful to the follow ing for permission to reproduce c o p y rig h t material: T h e Controller o f Her Majesty’s Stationery Office for extracts fr o m vo ls v, iv , viii, x, lx and series; vols vi, i, cxxxii, d xxvi, ii, f X XTCj civ, lvi, CXXXV, C x lli, « « « , CXXÍX, CXU, CXXXviÜ, CCXXXiv, c c x lii, ccxxxii, cclxv, clvi 3rd series; vols xlviii, xlvii, xlvi, x d i 4th series, and vols lv, lv i 5th series from Hansard; R. Oldenbourg V e rla g for extracts from Politische Schriften by J. G . Droysen.

PREFACE

In 1950 S it Charles Webster told the members o f die International Congress o f Historians at Paris that they w ould look in vain for an adequate book about the principles and practice o f the European Concert o f the nineteenth century. Since then some serious w ork has been done on the subject. Historians, notably F. H. Hinsley, and political scientists, particularly Stanley Hodman, G eorge L isk a and R. N . Rosecrance, have described and analysed the system o f the Concert; and a diplomatic historian, René AlbrechtCarrié, has presented the hundred documents that in his view b est illustrate the nature, meaning and operation o f the Concert o f Europe. But nobody has dealt thoroughly w ith its theory. T o h elp fill that gap is the aim o f this study. Radier than examine the Concert o f Europe from inside, I have looked at it through the eyes o f die men who lived with it and thought about it. From the w ritings o f statesmen, diplomatists, publicists, historians, inter­ national lawyers and political philosophers I have extracted the various views and ideas o f the European Concert that Germans and Englishmen put forward in the nineteenth century. The result is an analytic account o f the German and the British contribution to speculation about the Concert o f Europe. It was Professor Martin W ight, now at the University o f Sussex, w ho originally inspired my interest in the theory o f international politics, and later directed it towards the Concert o f Europe. T o him I am indebted also for advice in my research and stimulating criticism o f the draft o f this book. M y colleague here at die Australian National University, Professor Hedley Bull ; my form er colleagues at Carleton University in Ottawa, Professors Charles D alfen and Michael Fry; M r F. H. Hinsley at St John’s College, Cambridge; Professor Richard Hiscocks at die University o f Sussex; M r Colin Jacobson; Professor F. S. Northedge at the London School o f Economics and my father-in-law the late M r

The C oncert o f E urope Andreas Vlachoutsicos read some or all o f the chapters. I am grateful to them for die interest they showed and the many helpful suggestions they made. Mrs Ilse M. Mullins assisted me by drafting most o f the translations o f passages quoted from German sources. Finally, I record my gratitude to my wife, w ho encouraged and helped me at all stages o f the work. Canberra, Novem ber 1969.

G H.

INTRODUCTION

The Concert o f Europe, like the League o f Nations and the United Nations, originated in war. The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars in one way united and in another divided the states o f Europe. W hile revolution and invasion, by endangering the tranquillity and security o f all, forced the powers to make com­ mon cause, the long struggle with France, by testing the strength o f each, separated the stronger from die weaker ones. The pro­ duct o f the tw o influences was die coalition o f Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain. When the war was over the victorious allies retained die special position they had acquired in Europe. They took charge o f the negotiations at Vienna, redrew the boundaries o f states, prepared the peace treaties and, finally, renewed their wartime alliance. The treaty o f the Quadruple Alliance was signed at Pans on 20 Novem ber 1815. Though primarily designed to provide against the dangers o f a return o f Napoleonic régime in France, it also contained a plan for the conduct o f European politics in general. The sixth o f its seven articles ran as follow s: T o facilitate and to secure the execution o f the present treaty, and to consolidate the connections which at the present moment so closely unite the four Sovereigns for the happiness o f the w orld, the H igh Contracting Parties have agreed to renew their meetings at fixed periods, either under the immediate auspices o f the Sovereigns themselves or by their respective Ministers, for the purpose o f consulting upon their common interests, and for the consideration o f the measures which at each o f these periods shall be considered the most salutary for the repose and prosperity o f nations and for the maintenance o f the peace o f Europe. O n the basis o f this article the great powers managed the afiairs o f Europe in the postwar years. Already at the Congress o f Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818 Britain i

The C oncert o f E urope found herself in fundamental disagreement w ith the Continental powers about the political aims o f the new system. The gu lf that developed between the allies in the follow ing years led to a breakdown o f the congress system in 1822. But the practice o f consulting and cooperating survived. Though they never made a habit o f it, the great powers resorted to it so often throughout the century that together they sometimes assumed the character o f an institution o f European politics. This system o f diplomacy became known as the Concert o f Europe. ^ Unlike the League o f Nations, its successor, the Concert o f Europe was not an orderly organization w ith a permanent structure. A t best, it was an informal institution which enjoyed no more than intermittent existence. T ill the middle o f the century the four founders o f the congress system and France, who had been admitted at die Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle, were the only members. A t the Paris Congress in i8