Friedrich von Gentz is associated with the Balance of Power concept.
Definition: In his 1806 work Fragments on the Balance of Power in Europe, Gentz described the balance as a "constitution" among neighboring, interconnected states. This system allows any single state to exist independently without fearing the suppression of its rights by a stronger power.
Who was Gentz?
- A 19th-century conservative thinker and diplomat
His Contribution to Balance of Power:
Gentz strongly supported the idea that:
Peace in Europe can be maintained by maintaining a balance among great powers.
- No single state should become too powerful
- Power should be distributed to prevent domination
- Alliances can be used to restore balance
Historical Context:
After the Napoleonic Wars:
- Europe needed stability
- Gentz justified the Balance of Power system as a way to maintain peace
One-line Exam Answer:
Friedrich von Gentz was a key advocate of the Balance of Power, emphasizing equilibrium among states to preserve peace in Europe.
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Norman Angel
(1872–1967) was a Nobel Peace Prize-winning British journalist and author best known for his theory on economic interdependence, which he detailed in his 1910 bestseller, "The Great Illusion"
The Core Thesis
Angell argued that the industrial revolution had created a global economy so tightly woven together by trade and credit that war between modern nations had become economically futile.
- The "Great Illusion": He contended that the belief that military conquest brings economic gain is a myth. In a modern credit-based system, destroying an enemy’s economy is equivalent to destroying your own.
- Mutual Vulnerability: Because wealth in the 20th century was based on intangible assets like credit and commercial contracts, seizing territory by force would cause the financial system to "collapse like a house of cards," harming the victor as much as the vanquished.
- Futile Conquest: He pointed out that when Germany annexed Alsace-Lorraine, no individual German citizen became wealthier; the cost of the military effort far outweighed any perceived benefit Historical Misinterpretation
Angell is often incorrectly remembered for claiming that World War I was impossible.
- Irrationality vs. Impossibility: Angell actually argued that war was irrational and self-defeating, not that it could not happen. He warned that as long as leaders believed in the "illusion" of military benefit, war remained a constant threat.
- The Outbreak of WWI: When the war began in 1914, critics used it to "refute" his thesis, though Angell maintained that the conflict's devastating economic fallout—exactly as he predicted—actually proved his point.
Legacy and Modern Relevance.
Angell is considered a founding father of the Liberal school of international relations.
- Nobel Peace Prize: He was awarded the prize in 1933, primarily for his work as an educator and defender of collective security.
- US-China Relations: Modern scholars frequently revisit Angell’s logic when discussing the high levels of interdependence between the U.S. and China, debating whether their deep economic ties serve as a sufficient "deterrent" to conflict today.
- Interdependence Theory: His work paved the way for later theorists like Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye, who developed the concept of Complex Interdependence in the 1970s.
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While Norman Angell focused on the economic reasons why war was irrational, Woodrow Wilson focused on the political and legal structures needed to prevent it. Wilson’s solution was collective security, a system where the security of one nation is the concern of all.
The Vision: The Fourteen Points
On January 8, 1918, Wilson presented his Fourteen Points to Congress as a blueprint for world peace.
The "General Association": The 14th point was the most critical, calling for a "general association of nations" to provide mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity.
A Shift in Power: Wilson sought to replace the old "balance of power" system—which relied on competing alliances—with a "community of power" where law and collective action would deter aggression.
The Mechanism: The League of Nations
This vision was institutionalized through the League of Nations, established in 1919.
Article X: This was the "heart of the Covenant" for Wilson. It committed member states to preserve the territorial integrity of all other members against external aggression.
Sanctions: The League was designed to use moral pressure, economic boycotts, and, as a last resort, collective military force to stop rogue states.
The Failure of Implementation
Despite Wilson's "missionary" fervor, his project faced major hurdles:
Senate Rejection: Many in the U.S. Senate, led by Henry Cabot Lodge, feared that Article X would strip Congress of its power to declare war and drag the U.S. into endless European conflicts.
U.S. Absence: The United States never joined the League, significantly weakening its ability to enforce collective security.
The Path to WWII: Without U.S. participation, the League struggled to respond to the rise of totalitarian regimes in the 1930s, eventually failing to prevent the outbreak of World War II—a failure Wilson himself had predicted.
Relation to Norman Angell
Wilson was influenced by Angell’s ideas on interdependence, but they eventually diverged. While Angell believed economic reality would eventually make war stop, Wilson believed peace had to be actively enforced by a global organization.
