World Order: Reflections on the Character of Nations and the Course of History

In the second chapter, Kissinger continues discussing Europe, its practical diplomacy, and its perceptions of world order. He divides the chapter into chronological and thematic subject areas. These subjects include “The Russian Enigma,” The Congress of Vienna,” The Premises of International Order,” “Metternich and Bismarck,” “The Dilemmas of the Balance of Power,” “Legitimacy and Power Between the World Wars,” “The Postwar European Order,” and “The Future of Europe.” Effectively, Kissinger covers almost two hundred years of European history in this chapter.

First, the author focuses on Russia which plays “a unique role in international affairs” (49). He considers Russia an outlier. Geographically, that country is located both in Europe and Asia, but culturally and politically fits into neither category. In the early-19th century, Europeans “viewed with awe and apprehension a country whose territory and military forces dwarfed those of the rest of the continent” (49). The presence of Russia, Kissinger notes, “stood as an implicit challenge” (50) to the European notions about the international order.

The author also discusses the Russian expansion across the Eurasian landmass starting from the 16th century. He believes that its ruling system under the Czar, its Orthodox Christianity, and its heirship to the Byzantine Empire are important for developing an understanding of that country.