Word: castlereagh
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...political thinking was contained in his Ph.D. thesis, written in 1954 and later published under the title, A World Restored: The Politics of Conservatism in a Revolutionary Age. In it, he discussed the diplomatic deals and maneuvers by which a handful of foreign ministers-particularly Metternich and Viscount Castlereagh-restructured post-Napoleonic Europe and set the course of history for more than a century. In A World Restored, Kissinger argued that "stability based on an equilibrium of forces" was ultimately responsible for the relative calm of Europe in the decades preceding World War I. His fascination, however, lay clearly...
...When the unity of Europe came to pass, it was not because of the self, evidence of its necessity, as Castlereagh had imagined, but through a cynical use of the conference machinery to define a legitimizing principle of social repression; not through Castlereagh's good faith, but through Metternich's manipulation...
...examples given by Kissinger of Metternich, Castlereagh and Bismarck do not prove the excellence of their mastery of an imaginary "axiom." Nor does the mention of the Congress of Vienna, in which England did not really participate directly and which was mostly a declaration of Christian faith and defense of the monarchies and their protection. It was imposed by Emperor Alexander of Russia. As for Bismarck, he structured and strengthened his country and by imperialistic military victories imposed his will over Europe...
...concept of an "international order." It may chafe all concerned, but irritation is acceptable if no one's survival is threatened. In his history of the post-Napoleonic period, A World Restored, and in writing of the later fusion of German states, Kissinger displayed admiration for Metternich of Austria, Castlereagh of Britain and Bismarck of Prussia...
They were all reactionaries who stood in the way of republicanism, to be sure, but Metternich and Castlereagh particularly understood the need for "legitimate" political structures, for satisfying national (if not popular) aspirations, for balancing the powers of their day. Says Kissinger: "An international order, the basic arrangements of which are accepted by all the major powers, may be called 'legitimate.' " The world conceived in the Congress of Vienna ultimately crumbled, but only after a century of relative peace. The Germany constructed by Bismarck blundered into a fate of blood and new division, but only after the Iron Chancellor lost...