To what extent is it true to say that the great powers were more interested in their own national interests than maintaining the peace of Europe between 1815-30?

However, soon after the Vienna Settlement, we could see that the Great Powers’ involvement in the Concert of Europe was no longer to simply maintain peace, but to maximize their own national interests. This could be seen in the Great Powers’ proposals and decisions in different congresses from 1815 onward.

In the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1818, Russia proposed to station an allied standing army in Belgium. She also proposed later an international fleet in the Mediterranean regions so as to stamp out the piracy problems. However, her proposals were not primarily based on her concern of overall peace but that she wanted to extend her influence to Belgium and more importantly to the Mediterranean. Similarly, in the same congress, Castlereagh suggested that a naval force be appointed by the powers to search vessels for slaves. Yet, it was actually just Britain’s excuse to gain more control in the commerce of other countries.

Another significant example to demonstrate the Great Powers’ exploitation of the Congress System was the formation of the Troppau Protocol in 1820. By that time, a lot of revolts had sprung up all over Europe, including the Italian states, the German States and Spain. The autocratic leaders, especially Metternich, were alarmed since they feared that these revolutionary sentiments would disseminate to their own countries and that their throne would be at risk. Austria and Russia were particularly alerted to revolutions due to their multi-national nature. Hence, Austria, Russia and Prussia bound themselves to another alliance in which the three stated they would actively interfere and suppress revolution and revolts in Europe. They strove to restore the old order to any state which had undergone a change of government due to revolution. Therefore, in 1821, Austria sent an army of 80,000 soldiers to suppress the revolt in Naples. She also settled the Piedmonts’ revolution the same way. In 1822, Russia proposed to send 150,000 Russian soldiers to suppress the revolution in Spain but eventually out of close proximity and same royal house, France helped out instead.

All these incidents highlighted the fact that the meaning of the Congress System had been twisted. It was no longer a platform to achieve peace. From how the autocracies had made use of the Congress to ruthlessly suppress people’s liberties, we can see that the Congress system now became a tool for the Great powers to further their national interests. It should be noted that internal change of government did not disrupt peace in Europe, at most the stability in that certain country but the Great Powers still actively suppressed the revolts. This signified how the Great Powers were more interested in their own interests than the maintenance of peace.

Such an argument could be manifested in the Greek revolt against the Ottoman Empire in 1821. Although Russia previously joined the Troppau Protocol in which she declared she would, by all means, suppress revolutions in Europe. She took an opposite stance in the Greek revolt. Her assistance for Greece was partly out of their same religion, that is, Orthodox Christianity but more importantly out of her desire to extend Russian influence into the Balkan states. Britain who previously adopted the splendid isolation policy also actively took part in the intervention. That was because she was suspicious of Russia and realized that the best way to check against her was to work alongside with her. France, similarly, out of suspicion and the interest to come close to Britain, joined in the suppression of Greek revolt too. These countries’ reactions in the Greek revolt were distinctively different to their proclaimed policies, thus showing what directed them in the congresses was not the desire to maintain peace, but their own self-interests.

All in all, the fact that the Great Powers were more interested in their own interests instead of the maintenance of peace from 1815-1830 could be seen from their shifting alliances and policies. It was also because of these countries’ unwillingness to give up their interests that ultimately led to the break up of the Congress System. The fact that the Congress System only lasted for 15 years best demonstrated how the countries were more concerned of safeguarding their national interests rather than working together for the maintenance of peace. Hence, the statement was true to a large extent.