Hoorcollege 5 (15-4) Monarchical States and International Relations
Key Questions
- Why did most European monarchies survive the nineteenth century?
- Did they defend old principles and use old methods or adapt to modern times?
- How did the interaction between (mostly) monarchical states change between 1815 and 1914? And
how was it related to the outbreak of the First World War?
Congress of Vienna
- Monarchs were aware that nationalism was a process and idea.
- Russian Tsar; divine right of monarchs, legitimacy from God.
- Conservative idea -> it all went wrong with the Enlightenment.
- People will get the wrong ideas and the church. Ideas of popular sovereignty, and states will
get undermined.
- Cooperation between monarchical states -> dynasties were reinstalled, partly transformed, some
monarchies were introduced (Dutch Republic, Piedmont-Sardinia). Any conflict will be settled
between monarchical states like before the French Revolution. Military intervention was needed and
justified.
- Intervention in other states. Southern revolutions were put down by international intervention.
- Repression:
- Police and army.
- For a long time effective.
- Especially in the first half of the 19 th century.
- Russian authority bad international reputation.
- Sent prisoners to Siberia.
- Lenin was able to read and write in exile.
- Conservatism was a genuine political philosophy. Return to the old regime. Only way to reserve
order was to keep the old regime.
- Established order (lord, peasants, nobles etc.) cared for their people (patriarchy). Once you
start questioning this principle of authority, peasants won’t be protected and will be left to
the market.
Conservative monarchical states in the 19th century, especially 1815-1860s
- Congress of Vienna championed monarchies against revolutionary revival and reinstalled,
transformed or created them.
- Repression built on censorship, imprisonment and military intervention even in other monarchical
states, most marked in Russia.
- Justified by conservatism, based on political authority, social order and religion.
Why would a monarchy open up instead of staying conservative?
- People who are intimidated are not the best workers, they are not self-motivating.
- Middleclass is crucial for an age of progress, oppression will not gain the middleclass’ support,
economic price. Middleclass citizens needed to be stimulated by reform, crucial for taxes.
- No guarantee if the soldiers will stay loyal.
- Oppression could backfire at you, people could rise up.
- Nationalism -> unifications succeed because key monarchs rise to the conclusion that nationalism is
too strong to repress.
Key Questions
- Why did most European monarchies survive the nineteenth century?
- Did they defend old principles and use old methods or adapt to modern times?
- How did the interaction between (mostly) monarchical states change between 1815 and 1914? And
how was it related to the outbreak of the First World War?
Congress of Vienna
- Monarchs were aware that nationalism was a process and idea.
- Russian Tsar; divine right of monarchs, legitimacy from God.
- Conservative idea -> it all went wrong with the Enlightenment.
- People will get the wrong ideas and the church. Ideas of popular sovereignty, and states will
get undermined.
- Cooperation between monarchical states -> dynasties were reinstalled, partly transformed, some
monarchies were introduced (Dutch Republic, Piedmont-Sardinia). Any conflict will be settled
between monarchical states like before the French Revolution. Military intervention was needed and
justified.
- Intervention in other states. Southern revolutions were put down by international intervention.
- Repression:
- Police and army.
- For a long time effective.
- Especially in the first half of the 19 th century.
- Russian authority bad international reputation.
- Sent prisoners to Siberia.
- Lenin was able to read and write in exile.
- Conservatism was a genuine political philosophy. Return to the old regime. Only way to reserve
order was to keep the old regime.
- Established order (lord, peasants, nobles etc.) cared for their people (patriarchy). Once you
start questioning this principle of authority, peasants won’t be protected and will be left to
the market.
Conservative monarchical states in the 19th century, especially 1815-1860s
- Congress of Vienna championed monarchies against revolutionary revival and reinstalled,
transformed or created them.
- Repression built on censorship, imprisonment and military intervention even in other monarchical
states, most marked in Russia.
- Justified by conservatism, based on political authority, social order and religion.
Why would a monarchy open up instead of staying conservative?
- People who are intimidated are not the best workers, they are not self-motivating.
- Middleclass is crucial for an age of progress, oppression will not gain the middleclass’ support,
economic price. Middleclass citizens needed to be stimulated by reform, crucial for taxes.
- No guarantee if the soldiers will stay loyal.
- Oppression could backfire at you, people could rise up.
- Nationalism -> unifications succeed because key monarchs rise to the conclusion that nationalism is
too strong to repress.
