6 - PEACE THROUGH EQUILIBRIUM: THE SETTLEMENTS OF 1814–1815

Summary

We flattered ourselves … that the congress [of Vienna] would crown its labours, by substituting for these fleeting alliances (the result of necessities and momentary calculations) a permanent system of universal guarantees and general equilibrium … the order established in Europe would be placed under the perpetual protection of all the parties interested, who by wisely concerted plans, or by sincerely united efforts, would crush at the outset, any attempt to compromise it.

Talleyrand

The peacemakers at Utrecht confronted the problem of hegemony. In addition to the usual spoils of war, some of them had sought to create a system that would prevent the recurrence of French designs to “lay down the law” to the rest of Europe. In this objective, they succeeded, but they failed to create an order that would effectively reduce the incidence of war. One hundred years later, as the allied forces of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain bore down upon Napoleon – yet another figure who pursued the vision of “universal monarchy” in Europe – the leaders of the great powers once again had to consider how they could prevent a recurrence of this type of threat to the states system. There was a major difference this time, however. In 1713 the delegates at Utrecht and in subsequent peace negotiations did not consider war a significant international problem.