Abstract
Background
The Vienna Congress was held in 1814 to try and solve the common challenges facing the European countries and bring order after the defeat of Napoleon. It was convened by the Great Powers that were Great Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, and the other European countries were invited. This research will mainly focus on the importance of the Congress, the diplomatic approach taken by the Congress, and the major achievements of the Congress.
Methods
The main methods that will be used in the collection of data are in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The data will later be analyzed qualitatively.
Results
The data will be analyzed qualitatively and interpreted to get the impact and importance of the Vienna Congress on Europe as a whole. The opinions will be used to find out both the general feeling of Europe about the Congress system and the opinions of people in different countries on how it influenced the futures of individual countries.
Introduction
The Vienna Congress system was a representation of the power balance that existed in Europe at the end of the Napoleonic wars (Nicolson 2009). It was founded by the victorious Great Powers Great Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia. This was after they had defeated Napoleon and his French empire that had previously conquered most of Europe (Schmalenbach 2011).
Lord Castlereagh, a representative of Great Britain, Klemens von Metternich, who was an Austrian Chancellor, and Tsar Alexander I of Russia were the leading personalities of the Congress system at first (Chapman, The Congress of Vienna: Origins, Processes, and Results 1840). The Congress system had no written regulations or rules, but a member country could propose a conference if there was a crisis. The Congress system was developed by Metternich based on international relations and balance of power so that the powers would be able to contain each other’s ambitions (Temperley 1919).
The Great Powers were determined to restore order in Europe after the Napoleonic wars and the French Revolution. To bring order, a series of compromises had to be made (King 2009). First, France was not heavily punished but only contained (King 2009). Secondly, Russian expansion was limited in Eastern Europe because it was feared that Russia would become too powerful (King 2009). Austria gained increased influence in Italy and Germany while Prussia’s territories were extended (King 2009). Britain had primary interests overseas, and these were treated as pawns (Frédéric) 1816). Some of the pawns were even combined to become larger states (Frédéric) 1816). Most of the former rulers were also restored, although the nationalist feeling was considered unimportant and dangerous.
The Congress system was seen then as a sensible and fair arrangement (Chapman, The Congress of Vienna: Origins, Processes, and Results 1840). It was considered of great importance after the Napoleonic wars and was seen as a crucial step towards preventing war. Other people saw it, though, as serving the interest of primary states while ignoring the ones that were not as powerful (Pauley 1998). Some of the terms of the agreement later brought trouble as nationalism, which was considered dangerous and unimportant, spread all over Europe. The nationalist movements threatened stability, especially in the Austrian empire, as it had many races.
Problem statement
Overview
After the fall of Napoleon and his kingdom, there was still disorder in Europe due to the power vacuum. Most of the legitimate governments had been conquered by Napoleon. There were significant conflicts over boundaries, and two factions had already emerged, with Russia and Prussia on the one hand and Great Britain and Austria on the other (Schmalenbach 2011). This led to the convention of the Vienna Congress. The Vienna Congress resulted in a number of changes in Europe both boundary wise and also in the leadership. This research mainly focuses on the impact of the Congress system in Europe as a whole, not only immediately after the Congress but also the consequences the decisions had on the futures of the countries.
There was already disagreement over some issues during the signing, and this made Spain not sign the agreement. The research takes a closer look at the importance of the Congress system, the major decisions made during the Congress and tried to find out if the Congress system met its initial goals.
Research Questions
- What was the importance of the Vienna Congress system?
- What were the primary goals of the Vienna Congress system?
- What were the primary decisions made by the Vienna Congress system?
- Were the goals of the Vienna Congress system achieved?
Hypothesis
The Vienna Congress system was used to solve the major problems facing Europe. On the impact and effect of the Congress in Europe, I propose the following hypothesis.
- H1. The Vienna Congress system helped to stabilize Europe politically.
- H2. The Vienna Congress reduced conflicts between countries over boundaries.
- H3. The Vienna Congress system prevented political revolutions in Europe.
- H4. The Vienna Congress system brought order to Europe.
Objectives and Aims
Overall Objective
The object of this research is to find out the importance of the Vienna Congress system and how it shaped up the future of Europe. It is also to try and find out if the Congress really solved the problems facing the countries of Europe, or it led to more issues and disagreements between countries later.
Specific Aims
- To clearly define the goals of the Vienna Congress system.
- To find out the importance of the Vienna Congress system.
- To find out the achievements of the Vienna Congress.
- To find out how the decisions of the Vienna Congress were related to the initial purpose of the Congress.
- To find out the impact of the Vienna Congress system on the government of countries in Europe.
Background
After the defeat of Napoleon in May 1814, the Victorious Great Powers saw the need to meet and settle arising critical issues in Europe. The Victorious Great Powers were Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia (Nicolson 2009). The key questions that needed to be sorted out urgently were territories issues and other matters as developing a long-term European peace plan. The aim was not only to restore the boundaries as they were before Napoleon took control but also to resize them so that they could balance and hence remain at peace (Frédéric) 1816).
The Great Powers, as a result, invited the other European countries in September 1814 for peace deliberations in Vienna. During the Vienna Congress, the major points of disagreement between the countries present were the disposition of Saxony and Poland (Nicolson 2009), the critical issue of Sweden’s conflicting claims with Russia and Denmark, and the readjustment of borders of German states (International Meteorological Congress. Vienna 1874). Austria, England, and France opposed Prussia and Russia and even went to the extent of agreeing to a defensive alliance. Great Britain also did not want to get involved in internal disputes of countries, while Russia and Austria wanted to do so.
Alexander of Poland gave Austria Galicia and Thorn to Prussia. Krakow gained its freedom in the process (Chapman 1840). Warsaw got incorporated into a different kingdom, which was under the Russian Emperor. Prussia was given a part of Saxony and parts of Westphalia on the left side of Rhine (Chapman, The Congress of Vienna 1814-1815 2006). Castlereagh wanted Prussia to act as a buttress to the kingdom of Netherlands as it was still new and to protect the Rhine from the French. Austria was given Venice and Lombardy and got back Bavaria, Tirol, Baden, and WĂĽrttemberg. Denmark gave Sweden Norway but was given Lauenburg in return. Prussia was given Swedish Pomerania while Switzerland got a new constitution. Genoa was absorbed by Piedmont while an Austrian archduke took Modena and Tuscany (Vick 2014).
Another primary goal of the conference was to maintain the status quo by preventing the rise of political revolutions like the French Revolution (Temperley 1919). This could only be done by restoring power to the legitimate governments (Spiel 1968). A disagreement had already risen with Britain and Austria joining hands on one side, and Russia and Prussia on the other side of the issue of boundaries in Eastern Europe, and this had brought about renewed hostilities (Vick 2014). There were also significant disagreements regarding Eastern Europe as all the main European powers had an interest in it (Mechlin.) 1816). It is believed that it was one of the major causes of the First World War. The Turkish Empire that was steadily declining had control of most of the Middle East (Chapman, The Congress of Vienna: Origins, Processes, and Results 1840). Russia wanted to be able to access the Mediterranean directly via Dardanelles (Nicolson 2009). They also wanted to protect Christians in the Turkish Empire, which was Muslim. Austria did not want the Russian power to grow as it had its empire in the Balkans (Nicolson 2009). Great Britain also did not want Russian expansion into the Middle East and the Mediterranean as it also had interests in the region and the route to India (Pauley 1998). There was increased suspicion of Russia by Great Britain and France, and successive treaties did not solve it.
Initially, the victorious Great Powers wanted to exclude France’s participation, but Talleyrand managed to join it skilfully within the first few weeks. He managed this by allying himself to the committee of lesser powers such as Spain, Portugal, and Sweden so as to be able to control negotiations (King 2009). He then left the committee, abandoning his allies (King 2009). This was when he was able to contribute to inner negotiations thus.
Some of the achievements of the Congress systems were that a fair policy was adopted that guaranteed no great punishments and no great rewards was adopted. They were generous to France, although it had been defeated to prevent the feeling of revenge from France. This enabled all the countries to solve their differences with no significant punishment or alienation for France. It also adopted a policy to restore the status quo as it was before the war (Roxburgh 1920). Monarchies were also restored to Europe, and this ensured the return of the order in the contentment averting major political revolutions. There were ignored calls for greater democracy in Europe, and this conflicts within countries in the Nineteenth century.
The Vienna Congress system was an attempted to maintain a high level of organization and peace via combined actions of influence on the main states (Roxburgh 1920). A section historians argue that the Congress was not systematic, though, and the meetings were only held to respond to crises (Roxburgh 1920). All the agreements of the Vienna Congress were put in the final act of the Congress of Vienna, which was signed on June 9, 1815 (Schmalenbach 2011). Spain refused to sign the agreement as a protest against the settlement of Italy (Roxburgh 1920).
Research design and methods
Overview
The research will be conducted in two major phases. The first phase will involve the selection of data collection points, choosing key informants, testing interview protocols, preparing the questionnaire, testing the validity of the questionnaire, and training a research assistant. It will mostly be preparing for the second phase. The second stage will involve the actual collection of data, and in-depth interviews will be conducted with the key informants. The data will then be analyzed and used to come up with conclusive information.
This research design is advantageous in several ways. First, one on one in-depth interviews with the key informants will help me to gather useful information and their general opinion on the Congress System. The in-depth interviews are a good way to get the respondent’s real opinions without asking them directly as this gives their true and honest feelings. If they were to be asked their opinions in a more direct manner, the respondents might hide their true thoughts as they think the answers to the questions through. This makes it important to let the answers flow automatically in their responses by giving them time to air their thoughts. Secondly, the use of two methods of data collection will enable the comparison of the findings and also get some information that may have been missed by one method. The interviews will help in getting their opinions on a more personal level by using both the responses and their gestures while responding to the questions. The questionnaires, on the other hand, will give the respondents as much time and freedom as they need to clearly think their answers through before answering.
Thirdly, questionnaires will also help to reduce the costs of traveling to the informants and will enable getting the response from respondents who may not have the time to meet me in person. This will greatly help in reducing the expenses of traveling all over Europe. Some of the key respondents may also be too busy to get time for a face to face meeting, so questionnaires are appropriate as they can answer them at their own time and then send them back.
Population and Study Sample
Information will be gotten from people all over Europe. The target population for the research will be political analysts and historians. The study sample will include at least two respondents from former Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria, and other people selected from random countries all over Europe.
Sample Size and Selection of Sample
A stratified sampling technique will be used. In this type of sampling, the selection of sampling will be based on a random number or rotary numbers. It provides every country with the same chance of being included in the sample. This type of sampling will be used because the target population size is known and small. At least two respondents from Great Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria will take part in the research.
Sources of Data
The primary sources of research data will be the respondents in the various fields. The target population will majorly be historians and political analysts. The data will be collected from people all over Europe to ensure that different opinions are gotten. The countries may also have been affected differently by the agreements made during the conference, so collecting information from various respondents in the various countries will help to get not only the general view but also the view of a particular state. Literature reviews and also previous research wrote on the topic will also be used as sources of data.
Collection of Data
Data will be collected mainly through the use of interviews and semi-structured questionnaires.
A questionnaire is a written set of questions to which the respondents will be responding in writing or via mail. There will be both structured questions and simple questions where the respondent will give the answers by choosing either yes or no. Interviews will be used for the respondents who are available and geographically close by. The respondents will be from different countries that participated in the Vienna Congress.
Each respondent will be allocated about one hour for the interview. The interviews will be semi-structured and informal to collect as much information as possible. The interviews will be recorded using a sound recorder and transcribed later by the research assistant so that important details are not missed.
The questionnaires will be open-ended to enable the collection of as much information as possible. It will be structured in a logical manner to remind the respondent of the details systematically before they are asked to answer. This will also enable me to collect the opinions of the respondents without having to ask some questions directly. This will help improve the honesty and hence authenticity of the data collected.
The proposed questionnaire will be appropriately tested to ensure it is not ambiguous and captures the required areas conclusively.
Data Analysis Strategies
Transcription of the interviews will be done by the research assistant after the interviews. A coding scheme for the data collected using the questionnaires will be developed using word frequency tools. The responses from all the questionnaires will be read and put into multiple buckets, which will then be reviewed and compressed. The meaning and the context of the responses will then be gotten.
Data will be analyzed qualitatively. The descriptive method will be employed since the use of measures of central tendencies such as mode, mean and median and data presented in the form of frequency distribution table will facilitate descriptions and explanations of the findings.
Significance of proposed research
The research will enable people to know the real significance of the Vienna Congress system. Although some of the decisions and compromises agreed upon during the conference brought peace and order in Europe at the time, this research will help to understand if the solutions were long term or just quick fixes to the critical problems and challenges faced at the time.
It will also analyze in detail if the Congress system achieved what it was meant to achieve or it deviated from its primary functions due to factors such as disagreements among countries. This research also takes a close look at the major decisions made at the Congress and how they affected individual countries.
Through in-depth analyses of the data gotten from the interviews, the research will be able to find out opinions of people in different European countries on how the Congress system may have influenced the shape up of their nation.
Timeframes.
Bibliography
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Schmalenbach, Kirsten. 2011. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties: A Commentary. London: Springer Science & Business Media.
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