World History | Summary of 3 Systems including the Vienna System (Post-war Order)

The Vienna System (1815–1848)

When the French Revolution occurred in 1789, the monarchy-centered order that had been mainstream in Europe until then was greatly shaken.
In France, the king was executed, and a new political system advocating liberty and equality was born.
For this reason, conflict with countries like Austria and Prussia, which feared the revolution would spread to their own lands, intensified, and war began with France, which was wary of interference.
Amidst this, the military officer Napoleon rose to prominence, becoming emperor himself and expanding France's influence.
Although he once held a wide range of the European continent under his control, he failed in his invasion of Russia and was eventually defeated and ousted by the allied forces of Britain and Prussia at the Battle of Waterloo (near present-day Belgium) in 1815.

The Napoleonic Wars victors, including representatives from Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia, held the Congress of Vienna from 1814 to 1815 to discuss the post-war European order.
The conference was led by Austrian Foreign Minister Metternich, and French Foreign Minister Talleyrand also contributed to the restoration of the defeated France's status through skillful diplomacy.
What the countries aimed for was to rebuild the European order that had collapsed due to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, and to restore the monarchy-centered order that existed before the French Revolution.
The international order of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars formed in this way is the Vienna System.
Although the Congress of Vienna faced difficulties in negotiations due to conflicting interests among the countries, while glamorous social events such as balls and dinners were held daily, it was described as "the congress dances, but does not advance", but ultimately, important agreements were reached to determine the post-war order of Europe.

Under the Vienna System, many of the royal families exiled by the revolution were restored, and the great powers cooperated to maintain stability in Europe.
As a result, Europe enjoyed a period without large-scale wars for some time, but the ideas of liberalism and nationalism that had spread due to the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars could not be erased.
Movements based on these ideas spread throughout Europe, triggered by the February Revolution of 1848 in France, which arose from opposition to the conservative monarchy under the Vienna System, and Metternich was ousted in Austria.
Thus, the Vienna System, which aimed for a return to the pre-revolutionary order, was greatly shaken, and it shifted to the subsequent era of liberalism and nationalism.

The Versailles System (1919–1930s)

In World War I, which began in 1914, the Allied Powers, centered on Germany, fought against the Allied Powers, such as Britain and France, and the front lines were prolonged, involving many countries.
Toward the end, the United States entered the war, the war situation tilted toward the Allied Powers, and in 1918, Germany was defeated, the war ended, and the international order centered on Europe collapsed significantly.

After the war, in 1919, the Paris Peace Conference was held, where representatives of the main victorious nations gathered to discuss post-war processing and a new international order.
As a result, Germany was subjected to territorial cessions, military restrictions, and large reparations, and the Treaty of Versailles was signed at the Palace of Versailles in the suburbs of Paris.
Also, based on the Fourteen Points proposed by U.S. President Wilson, the League of Nations was established.
The international order centered on Europe after World War I formed in this way is the Versailles System.
Note that the United States did not ratify the Treaty of Versailles and did not join the League of Nations because its Congress opposed President Wilson's international cooperation policy from a position of isolationism.

Under the Versailles System, Europe temporarily regained stability, but strong dissatisfaction remained in the defeated Germany.
Furthermore, due to the Great Depression, the economies of each country deteriorated, leading to a focus on their own nations, and the system based on international cooperation could not respond to reality, leading to increased criticism.
In Germany, the Nazis expanded their influence and gained support by advocating for the abandonment of the Treaty of Versailles.
As a result of these, the Versailles System collapsed in the 1930s, leading to World War II.

The Washington System (1921–1930s)

The international order after World War I was formed by the Versailles System centered on Europe and the Washington System centered on the Asia-Pacific region.

In the Asia-Pacific region at that time, a naval expansion race among the great powers was continuing, and competition for interests surrounding China was intensifying, leading to heightened international tension.
In response to this situation, the Washington Conference was held from 1921 to 1922 under the leadership of the United States.

The conference was attended by great powers such as the United States, Britain, Japan, and France, and discussions were held on naval disarmament and the China issue.
Regarding naval disarmament, it was determined that the ratio of capital ship holdings would be 5 for the United States and Britain, and 3 for Japan (1.67 for France and Italy), and Japan was limited to a smaller holding than the U.S. and Britain (Washington Naval Treaty).
Also, the maintenance of the status quo in the Pacific region, respect for China's sovereignty, and the Open Door policy were established.
The international order centered on the Asia-Pacific region after World War I formed in this way is the Washington System.

However, as the Great Depression caused countries to strengthen policies prioritizing their own national interests, international cooperation gradually weakened.
When Japan initiated the Manchurian Incident in northeastern China in 1931, the respect for China's sovereignty and cooperation among the great powers, which were the premises of the Washington System, were greatly shaken, and the system gradually collapsed.
Consequently, the Asia-Pacific region headed toward the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the Pacific War.