Europe and the States

Abstract

The state system Metternich tried to establish in Europe was one of collective security among the governments, as distinguished from free competition among sovereign states in pursuit of their individual interests, For its success the system required that governments hold some common interest to be more important than separate state ambition. Rulers and governments had to believe that competition among them would create dangers so great as to overbalance the opportunities competition might offer. The basis found for the system’s operation was fear of change-fear of the revolution and war that might be unleashed by open state competition.