Klemens Von Metternich And The Congress Of Vienna

Overview:
Klemens von Metternich was an Austrian politician and statesman and perhaps the most important diplomat of his era. He was a key figure in the negotiations leading to the Congress and Treaty of Vienna and is considered both a paradigm of foreign policy management and a major figure on the development of diplomacy. The Congress of Vienna (1815) represented a transitory triumph for the old conservative order. This period of conservatism was best represented by the headship and policies of Austriam minister Klemens von Metternich.
Evaluation of the Congress of Vienna:
It successfully restored the balance of power and served as major accomplishment of reactionary conservatism during the early 19th century.
Concert of Europe:
Metternich

The importance of this Metternich System reflected Metternich’s significant role in Europe. That is why this period in Europe is also known as the era of Metternich. He defeated Napoleon and brought former rulers into power. The new forces of liberalism and nationalism were prevented to disturb the conservative order by victors at Congress of Vienna. Metternich hated revolutionary ideals of equality, democratic government, and nationalism, liked absolute monarchy, multi-national empires and class distinctions, wanted to put down ideas of political upheaval in order to maintain stability and he also wanted “legitimacy” to return rightful monarchs or their heirs to their

He wanted stability both within states and between states by convincing the great powers of their mutual interests in preserving the European order. He believed that conserving traditional institutions was the best strategy to deliver this. Peace externally depended on the balance of power, or no nation being too powerful either economically or militarily. Metternich was a staunch conservative who regarded liberalism and nationalism as threats to the survival of the Austrian Empire. As Austria was a multiethnic empire of the great powers, Metternich believed, needed to repress nationalism and create a system of collective security to maintain the statusquo. To that end, Metternich advocated aggressive intervention in any country that threatened the conservative order. A master at art of diplomacy, Metternich managed to convince his international colleagues to accept many of his conservative principles. Metternich was synonymous to the conservative opposition to change. He believed that the best form of government was monarchy based on a deep-rooted claim to the throne. As restored rulers were usually autocratic and intransigent, as well as supporter of conservatism and enemy of liberalism, Metternich expected them to uproot any revolutionary movements to the detriment of peace and stability. Though socialism, nationalism and liberalism made short-term gains, they were largely kept in check by