HIS103Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Endangerment
Hegemonic distribution --> not equal
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Power possessed by states is checked and balanced by the
powers of others
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Desire of all states to maintain independence
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No great power could endanger others
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What is the balance of power?
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Power = security, capabilities / vulnerabilities, resources, and
impact of resources internationally
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Prussia really wasn't very powerful
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Russia: territory, standing army, population
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Britain: control of seas, industry, colonies, commerce
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Even together couldn't threaten Russia / Britain
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Never gained military alliances that secured them
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No comparable power status among states
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France, Austria, and Prussia were relatively weak
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British blocked French plans
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Britain / Russia could do as pleased, claim what territory without
conflict with one another
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British believed in hegemonic power : they know best how to
regulate the balance of power
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Both pursued hegemony as balance of power
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Russia and Britain natural allies, joint arbiters of Europe
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1791 - nearly collided in Ottoman Empire
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Pitt wanted to define roles
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Russia : balance means controlling East, alliance with Germany to
protect against France
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Napoleon's ambitions went to far --> imbalance after 1815
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Did not try to get in each other's way
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No one could stop Anglo-Russian coalition
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Mutual consensus on norms and rules, respect for law, balance
in terms of rights, security, status, claims, duties,
satisfactions, preservation of order
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Why was the system successful?
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Language never indicated just balance of power, but political
equilibrium
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Legal / moral balance
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Everyone agreed France would not be destroyed
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Importance of rule of law
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Each sate needed / claimed to fulfil role in Europe
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Genuinely equal and fair balance in legal rights
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Balance between conflicting claims based on various rights
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Fear of revolution?
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Each state knew aggressive actions would be met with powerful
coalitions against them
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Blocking coalition was never necessary
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No one could threaten Britain and Russia, but could threaten each
other
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Not worried about French revolutionary ideas, but WAR -
disruptive
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Stripping of resources, destruction of armies, danger of
rebellion from people to create peace
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No one wanted to lose voices / position within the system
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18th century tactics not allows : force, violation, independence
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Expected to be permanent --> carefully negotiated
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Did the Vienna Settlement rest on the Balance of Powers?
Tutorial 2.1: Understanding the Concert
January 19, 2017
1:00 PM
READINGS Page 187
Document Summary
Power possessed by states is checked and balanced by the powers of others. Power = security, capabilities / vulnerabilities, resources, and impact of resources internationally. Britain / russia could do as pleased, claim what territory without conflict with one another. British believed in hegemonic power : they know best how to regulate the balance of power. Russia : balance means controlling east, alliance with germany to protect against france. Russia and britain natural allies, joint arbiters of europe. Napoleon"s ambitions went to far --> imbalance after 1815. Mutual consensus on norms and rules, respect for law, balance in terms of rights, security, status, claims, duties, satisfactions, preservation of order. Language never indicated just balance of power, but political equilibrium. Balance between conflicting claims based on various rights. Each sate needed / claimed to fulfil role in europe. Genuinely equal and fair balance in legal rights. Each state knew aggressive actions would be met with powerful coalitions against them.
