CEVAP:

• Since war existed as a means for state to achieve their interests, the European political system in the 18th century was a royal court in which no monarch could dominate on his own. Though some monarchs had greater reach to power through the richness of the realm they ruled, no ruler had the absolute means to make a marginal difference to subdue the others. Therefore any conflict rested on the interest of a single monarch happened to turn into a war in which almost all units involved attempting to get a share. As Paul Schroeder points out “the motive and rule
of all action was to advance the interests of the state meaning first of all its power, security, and wealth, but also, almost equally, its monarch’s honour and prestige (considération) and rank among other princes. Reason of state thus closely linked the state with its monarch and dynasty, but not with its people or nationality; that link was only beginning to emerge in some countries” (1994: 8).
• Almost all the major conflicts that broke out in Europe were related to royal issues and unsettled dynastic successions, as in the cases of the Wars of the Spanish Succession, the Wars of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War. However, war-making was costly and the financial means of the European monarchs only allowed them to wage limited wars with restricted aims.    • Understandably, the Congress System was the direct result of all of the traits mentioned
above. They were convened to end wars and find a way to resolve the conflict and to reach a mutually-acceptable agreement. All the major conflicts which involved almost all the actors in the European political system were settled and resolved by major conferences.
• Basically, the Utrecht Congress was a meeting to end an all-out war and construct a collective rapprochement for peace. In a way, it was an adaptation of the procedures which had worked effectively in the Peace of Westphalia. As had happened in the course of Utrecht, the congresses emerged as adequate platforms to end wars only; however, states were hesitant to apply to this instrument to other international issues. Therefore other congresses that were held in the 18th century had the same characteristics as those of Utrecht, that is, they were all “peace” congresses. In that sense, these were “ad hoc” meetings.