This paper seeks to make arguments about the grand narrative of nineteenth century IR history as regards modes or varieties of hierarchy, going beyond claims of general, persistent and overlapping “heterarchy” to periodize the century somewhat clearly. To do this, it makes a relatively new contribution by looking at how balance of power strategy or balance as a raison de système followed by European great powers created hierarchy in the greater European sphere of relations, roughly in the period 1815-1856. Power considerations produced a fairly clear ranking of states in this era, enabling some to conduct interventions and determine the fates of lesser powers, right up to the Crimean War, which featured substantial re-arranging of the fates of several units. It then compares the patterns and outcomes produced by a balancing logic with the more well-understood hierarchical forms and outcomes under the classic Standard of Civilization after 1870 or so. The late-century “family of civilized nations,” as a status group, constructed hierarchical relations in a different manner, with amazingly stark contrasts in many ways, for relations both within Europe and globally.
