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European Stability Addressed In the Congress of Vienna1

Delegation from: Represented by:The United Kingdom of Netherlands Baron Hans Christoph Ernst Freiherr von Gagern,

Kevin Mattalo, St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School

Summary and Motives

Following the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814, the Congress of Vienna was established toreform a dismantled Europe. The delegates at the Congress of Vienna were motivated a large degree by the desireto benefit Europe as a whole. The Congress of Vienna aimed at creating a balance of power amongst the dominantnations in Europe by reinstating conservative regimes, containing France, and by reaching an agreement tocooperate. The ideas developed and discussed at the Congress of Vienna primarily concerned geopoliticalboundaries, so as to prevent the expansion of liberal nationalist ideologies within Central Europe, mainlyconcerning the Polish-Saxon Question . Cooperation was also seen as a primary component in The Congress of Vienna in order to establish peace within Europe. The notion of cooperation was regarded effectively in TheCongress of Vienna through the altruistic behaviour of national representatives present; this therefore supports anoverall purpose of suppressing continental conflict and returning to the status quo ante bellum (the state of Europe in pre-Napoleon revolution).

Ensuring European Stability

The integration of effective policies and ideologies to reduce the expansion of liberal nationalists andFrench empowerment in Europe is of great importance. However, the delegation believes that withoutmaintaining stability within France and repressing liberal nationalist movements, the overall peace of Europe wontbe attained.

The United Kingdom of Netherlands realizes that France is the country that is most prone to rapid politicalchange and revolution due to the recent fall of Napoleon Bonaparte. We thus see it as a priority to firstly establisha constitutionalist monarch government in France to maintain order and reduce the possibility of liberal nationalistrevolution. An example of a constitutionalist government that would be an effective model is the British

constitutional monarch system. The Bourbon Monarchy , which was a suggested policy, will ultimately beineffective in maintaining peace in France because this Monarchy is Absolute. The Absolute Monarchy willgenerate revolt as the people of France want freedom, they do not want to fall under the similar rule of Napoleon.The British Constitutional Monarch System created The Bill of Rights 1689, and The Act of Settlement 1701 whichneutralized the Monarchs ability to become absolute and therefore allowed freedom and social stability in Britain.This is the ideal society that France is trying to achieve.

In relation to the consequences France will experience for their actions, we believe altruistic behaviour isthe best approach. With regards to The Treaty of Paris, the condemnation of France to reparations and lack of landwill ultimately create chaos, thus resulting in the rise of revolutionary ideas within France. This completely defiesthe purpose of this Congress and will only serve to hinder the need to stabilize Europe.

The United Kingdom of Netherlands furthermore believes that implementing the Holy Alliance , which wasdissolved under Napoleon Bonaparte s annexation of the Holy Roman Empire , is a vital component of ensuringlong-standing peace in Europe and reducing the amount of liberal nationalists arising. This alliance surpassescertain barriers created by independent states, such as nationalism, and is a free-governing rule that all countriesabide by to achieve a common good. The use of the Holy Alliance as a way of suppressing liberal nationalistexpansion also incorporates smaller states within Europe and client states of the Quadruple Alliance in the effort toachieve peace in Europe.

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The Polish-Saxon Question

The United Kingdom of Netherlands sees the assimilation of Poland into Russia as a general threat to thebalance that is trying to be established within Europe due to the geopolitical expansion of Russia into CentralEurope. Thus we believe that the ratification of The United Kingdom of Netherlands, which comprised the formerRepublic of Holland and Austrian Belgium, caused the Duke of The United Kingdom of Netherlands to join theGerman Confederation. This is of importance because the establishment of the German Confederation acts as abuffer between the powerful states of Poland and Russia. Furthermore, the German Confederation, which iscomprised of German-speaking states, was the introduction of a stable peaceful power in Central Europe thatwould discourage aggressive movements by France and ultimately Russia in annexing Poland. With respect to thePolish-Saxon question, we believe the introduction of the German Confederation serves as a medium betweenCentral Europe and Russia and reduces the threat for Russian expansion, thus maintaining European stability. Inthis solution, The German Question and Problems with Nationalism are also addressed. In essence both TheGerman Question and Problems with Nationalism face faults with the establishment of liberal nationalists. Withthe amalgamation of the Confederation of the Rhine into the German Confederation, two influential powers,Prussia and Austria entered. The creation of the German Confederation created much fear over ideas such as

supremacy and nationalism. The United Kingdom of Netherlands believes that the establishment of the GermanConfederation is a critical component of maintaining solidarity between Central Europe and Russia. Russia itself,after France, served as the most likely state to overthrow power in Europe through the absorption of Poland. Thus,by introducing a powerful state in the middle of Europe, it serves as an intermediary between Russia and Europethus reducing fear of Russian expansion. It also disallows the German Confederation to expand into surroundingterritory due to being in geopolitical deadlock. Therefore nationalism is suppressed and the Polish-Saxon Question is successfully answered.