The Two Hague Peace Conferences And Their Historical Heritage

The late nineteenth Century and early twentieth Century is a turning point of world history as well as the critical period for the transition of the pattern of international relations. The two Hague conferences which took place in1899and1907was the outcome of the development of international situation and reflected distinctive characteristics of that time. A further research on the two Hague conferences and their historical heritage is of great significance to the through understanding of the basic conditions for the normal operation of international mechanism especially the concert of great powers and tracing the development path of international laws.Currently, there are few domestic researches on the two Hague conferences. In the introduction part of the thesis, the author will introduce the state of internal and overseas researches on the issue, analyze their research perspectives, and summarize their features. On the basis of the above work, the research objectives and perspectives of the thesis will be put forward:putting the two Hague conferences under the backdrop of the macroscopic evolution of the history of international relations, taking it as an exploration of the global concert of great powers in the last stage of European concert and revealing their guiding and the cornerstone-laying significance to the contemporary international mechanisms.The Second Industrial Revolution promoted the transformation in production relations and change of mode of international communications. In terms of production relations, the most significant transformation was the arising of monopolization, resulting in the transition of capitalist countries from laisser-faire capitalism to monopoly capitalism. In terms of communicating mode of countries, the world was becoming a whole increasingly. All powers expedited their expansion as a result of their increasing dependence on overseas colonies. During this period, emerging forces also had a great impact on the existing world order, such as the rising of new great powers represented by the US and Germany, autonomous nationalist movements in Europe and the forming of two military blocs. Because of the impact of these forces, the old system of Concert of Europe was confronted with crisis of collapsing. Also, the great war was imminent for the increasing military conflicts and fierce arms race. Therefore, the direct purpose of Hague Peace Conferences was to avoid wars and maintain overall peace of the world. But the ultimate goal of the conferences was lying in seeking the way that old and new powers could coexist peacefully in terms of international relations, redistributing power and exploring the fundamental framework of the impending international order.The First Hague Conference was initiated by the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, whose direct motive was to alleviate domestic financial crisis but also influenced by pacifist thoughts and civil pacifist movements. The two Hague conferences included all independent countries of that time.But the leading roles were still some great powers. Also, some emerging powers played important roles in the course of conferences, especially the United States. The two conferences produced abundant achievements that made creative contributions to the construction of international order and development of international law. In particular, three important conventions signed at the end of First Hague Conference——Convention for the pacific settlement of international disputes, International Convention with respect to the Laws and Customs of War on land and the Convention for the Adaptation to Maritime Warfare of the Principles of Geneva Convention had a profound impact on the compiling of international laws, especially laws of war.The two Hague conferences exercised great influences over the evolution of international system. Due to all sorts of reasons, the achievements of two Hague conferences were not implemented, leading to the continuous deterioration of international circumstances. The contradictions between the new and old powers finally turned into a full-scale war. To ease up the tense international situation and maintain the peace, the two Hague conferences attempted to save the European concert in crisis and extend it to the world with a result of establishing a global concert system between great powers. The two Hague conferences also provided a stage for the emerging powers to demonstrate themselves and improve their international influences. In particular, the United States took advantage of this opportunity to come into the international political arena, participate in the dealing of international affairs and become an influential world power, laying foundation for playing more important roles in the future.The two Hague conferences leave abundant historical heritage. Among the serial achievements of the peace conferences, the founding of international arbitration and international arbitration court was the most important. They laid conditions for settling the international disputes peacefully and started the origins of international humanitarian law. They also offered jurisprudence basis to the four Geneva conventions, the Kellogg-Briand Pact and the Pact of Paris.On the basis of systematic analysis of the background, course, achievements and consequences of the two Hague conferences, this thesis will refer to the domestic and overseas achievements on research and utilize the realistic and Neo-liberal theories on international mechanisms, so as to conclude the necessary conditions for international conferences to become a fixed international mechanism accepted by all powers. For example, a successful concert of great powers must have openness, representativeness and inclusiveness as well as complete organization structure and system norms, an actual leading core and common interests and values. Moreover, the thesis will point out the key and the future breakthrough of this study.