Clemont von Metternich, Minister of Foreign Affairs (1809-48) and Austrian State Chancellor (1821-48), was the most significant conservative statesman in Europe during the period 1814-48. Dominating affairs within the Austrian Empire, he also often dictated policies within the German Confederation and the Italian states, and directly influenced the pattern of international relations through the medium of the Concert of Europe[1]. He has been credited by some historians with having devised a method of working, known as the “Metternich System”. This system represented Metternich’s efforts to maintain the 1815 settlement through an alliance of European monarchies and by the comprehensive repression of nationalism and liberalism within states.

Impact on the international scene

The international scene of Europe in 1814-48 was greatly shaped by Metternich’s 5-folded European policies. They were aimed at stamping out revolutionary ideas, ensuring general European peace, preventing the upheaval of France, checking Russian ambition and imposing firmer grip over Germany.

A. Stamping out revolutionary ideas Metternich was a noble by birth and a diplomat of the old type. To him, any social equality and political liberty would mean the destruction of the privileges of his own class. His political outlook was firmly rooted in the 18^th century.

Napoleonic occupation had transported the revolutionary and nationalist ideas to different parts of the Europe. Although the Vienna Settlement had provided a material solution to the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, it had failed to solve this underlying problem. According to Metternich, strong action was needed by monarchs to re impose equilibrium – internally by repressive policies against the spread of revolutionary ideas and externally by joint action with the powers.

In fact, the composition of the Austrian Empire necessitated an urgent stamping out of revolutionary ideas. Austria was a multi-racial empire. It was made up of both German and non-German subjects. It was thus threatened with disintegration more than any other state in Europe if revolution and international war broke out again.

Besides, Metternich adopted political repression against the spread of revolutionary ideas. He passed the Carlsbad Decrees in 1819 and the Six Articles in 1832. There was no freedom of press, speech and association. Universities were strictly supervised and above all, Austria became a police state.

Although Metternich tried hard to stop the spread of revolutionary ideas in Europe, the outbreak of revolutions could not be prevented indeed. Thus there were a series of revolutions and rebellions in 1830 and then again in 1848.

B .Ensuring general European peace: After the Battle of Waterloo and the defeat of Napoleon, Metternich decided that the restored monarch had to cooperate and there had to be some machinery for concerted action. So he supported the device of periodic congresses, at which the governments of the major powers could agree to a settlement of all disputes that might endanger the peace of Europe. So, Metternich was very eager to serve as the host in the Congress of Troppau, 1820 and the Congress of Laibach, 1821 after the Congress of Vienna, 1814-15. In fact, the holding of congresses facilitated his implementation of the policy of armed intervention.

C. Preventing the upheaval of France: To maintain the supremacy of the Austrian Empire and to ensure the European peace, Metternich helped in preventing the upheaval of France. In the Vienna Settlement, barrier states were erected around France so that all states on French frontiers would be strong enough to hold up any recurrence of French aggression long enough for the powers to mobilize their forces.

D. Checking Russian ambition: To check Russian ambition in Europe was another means used by Metternich to maintain the supremacy of the Austrian Empire. In the Congress of Vienna, Russia was prevented to acquire the whole of Poland. Metternich was also not determined to see Russia dominating in the Balkans because Russia had greatly expanded her influence there in the Greek War of Independence and the Mehemet Ali Crises. In the Straits Convention of 1841, the powers agreed that the Dardanelles was to be closed to the ships of all the nations including Russia during wartime.

E. Imposing firmer grip over Germany: Being the President of the German Confederation, Austria, under the leadership of Metternich, imposed firmer grip over it after 1815. Metternich secured the presidency of the Diet of the German Confederation for Austria in 1815. This position was of decisive importance for the president decided upon the business to be discussed and the procedure to be adopted in the Diet. Although the leadership of Austria was gradually challenged by Prussia in the German Confederation, Metternich was still competent in maintaining the supremacy of Austria in the German Confederation before his resignation in 1848.

Impact on the Austrian Empire

A study of the significance of Metternich should not be limited to Metternich’s influence on the international scene in Europe. It should be extended to how he influenced the Austrian Empire as well.

A. Lack of reforms: Metternich was not totally in opposition to changes, but he believed that changes had to be gradual only. So he only hesitatingly attempted to restructure the administrative system; on the other hand there was total lack of other essential reforms, particularly social and economic reforms. He was accountable for the backwardness of the Austrian Empire when other European countries were making rapid economic progress. So, even serfdom, an outdated social system, was still retained.

B. Financial exhaustion: Perhaps the greatest damage Metternich did to the Austrian Empire was to continue promoting her as a “European necessity”. This self-imposed mission to uphold the central European balance against encroachment from Russia and France, and to keep Italy and Germany within her conservative orbit, was beyond the resource of Austria to sustain. Austria had emerged from the Napoleonic Wars in a state of financial exhaustion. Since then, the government had persistent budgetary problems. While the limited financial resources were diverted towards the European affairs, other areas of domestic need went without adequate financial attention.

C. Dismemberment of the Empire: Besides the financial weakening of the Austrian Empire, racial factor was another reason for the decline of the Austrian Empire. Apart from controlling the centrifugal force of nationalism by upholding the one centripetal power, the traditional authority of the Hapsburg dynasty, he exploited the policy of “divide and rule”. He promoted provincial identities by sponsoring the development of local cultural traditions. Through this method, he hoped that antagonism between the different races could be encouraged and the different nationalities would keep each other in check. However, by doing so, Metternich unwittingly awakened in many people the realization that they were not German. The next logical step was for them to get independence from the Austrian Empire.

Conclusion

In retrospect, Metternich was important in the European history for his contribution in the international diplomacy. Yet, he should also be blamed for his inability to prevent the decay of the Austrian Empire. He finally became one of the principal casualties in the collapse of the Austrian Empire when he fell from office in 1848.