Westphalia Treaty Flashcards
The treaty ended war between whome
• Ended 30 years of war in Europe mainly between Roman catholic Habsburg (Holy Roman
Empire) empire and protestants kings of Sweden, Denmark, France, Netherlands.
Where was the treaty signed?
• The Treaty was signed at Münster and later at Osnabrück (former the Roman Catholic city and later one the Protestant city).
Significance of Westphalia treaty
Westphalia Treaty- 1648
•Ended 30 years of war in Europe mainly between Roman catholic Habsburg (Holy Roman
Empire) empire and protestants kings of Sweden, Denmark, France, Netherlands.
• The Treaty was signed at Münster and later at Osnabrück (former the Roman Catholic city and later one the Protestant city).
• Established commonwealth of sovereign, legally equal states; ended rule of Emperor (layered & decentralized rule) and religious authority (protector of Christian commonwealth) in Europe.
• Considered as beginning of IR in modern period based on state system- sovereign, legally equal states interacting through diplomatic relationship, and maintenance of international peace by balance of power.
• The treaty also established IR norms of non- interference in the domestic affairs of one state by other states and national self-determination.
• State could decide its religion, moral standards (for political actions) and its interest and could inter into diplomatic relationship with other states on equal footing.
• The essence of modern nation-state became the Westphalian idea that political legitimacy has to come from secular legal authority rather than from divine sanction as it was a practice in the Middle Ages.
• The treaty and subsequent Westphalian State System laid foundation of modern state:
Centralized administration and government, big and powerful armies, taxation system, absolute control on domestic affairs, political obligation, diplomatic relationship with other states, etc.
Westphalian template
• Westphalian Template: Territorial sovereignty, legally equal status to each state despite their size, power, capabilities, non-interference in domestic affairs, national self-determination, diplomatic recognition and relationships, and adherence to International laws/treaties.
• Westphalian State System also denoted Secular state, citizenship rights (subjects had limited rights vis-a-vis the rulers), political obligation, national morality (different from the universal moral standards), territorial integrity, national interest, and Balance of Power.
• Above features of the Westphalian State System became the bedrock (foundation) of the modern International State system.
• State became the main, rather the sole, actor in global politics/IR.
• Westphalian State System came into being first in Europe, expanded to North America by late 18th century, to Latin America in early 19th, and in Asia & Africa- in late 20th Century.
• Despite being Global political phenomenon, it is still highly Eurocentric.
Pre Westphalian stage in Ir
Pre-Westphalian phase of IR:
Following are some of the salient features of Pre- Westphalian phase of IR, that is, the IR before the Westphalian treaty in 1648:
•The Greek city-state system, the Roman Empire, and big multi-national empires in Middle Ages are the key developments in Europe leading to the Westphalian state system.
• In the ancient world there existed small city states in Greece, India, Egypt, Italy, and elsewhere. No concept of territorial sovereignty, equality, and non-interference.
• Thereafter, sprawling dynastic empires- Roman, Maurya, Han in China- emerged.
• Medieval period saw feudal system in Europe, and Multi-national empires - Holy Roman Empire in Europe, Safavid Empire in Iran, Mughals in India, Ming in China, Ottoman Empire in Turkey, etc.
• Empires had layered and divided authority- Emperor- kings- lords/baron-nights- serfs; In Mughal India, the intermediate authorities were Big Raja’, Smaller Raja, Zamindars, and Jaghirdars. Thus, there was not direct rule of the emperor on his subjects.
• Separation between religion and politics was not neat & clean. Both the church and state ruled the people. In Mughal India witnessed constant struggle between ‘Ulma’ (religious authorities) and the Mughal King.
• Thus, even in Medieval period, there was no concept of sovereign states, non- interference, national self-determination, and secular state.
However, they had diplomatic relationship, trade & economic interactions, and some sort
of balance of Power.
Post Westphalian stage in IR
Westphalian State System in the beginning had the following features:
• Territorial sovereignty: The State was sovereign in all respect within its territory. No other superior power to control it in domestic or global affairs.
• States ruled by Kings/princes having their own religion (Catholicism, protestants-Lutherans, Calvinists, and Zwinglians).
• State had defined territory, population(subject/citizen), military power, centralized Govt./administration.
Non-interference in the domestic affairs of the states and their legal equality in the international state system, which was limited to few states of Europe.
• Diplomatic relationship among states.
• non-recognition of political organisation beyond Europe- non-European political systems( northAmerica, latin America and third world) where are not members of the state system
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Adherence to International law, treaties, covenants.
Balance of Power and collective security.
Concert of Europe
Britain, France Prussia Russia, and Austria
Later developments in the post Westphalian language phase in IR
Later developments in the Post Westphalian phase in IR:
Treaty of Utrecht (1713), Congress of Vienna (1815), and Treaty of Paris (1856) further shaped concept of national sovereignty, nation-states, and Balance of power.
• French revolution was a paradigmatic shift in IR- notion of popular sovereignty, liberty, equality.
• The system that emerged after the Vienna Congress was a system of great-power hegemony and known as the Concert of Europe- Britain, France, Prussia, Russia and Austria- took upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining international order.
• Further rise of nationalism, nation-state, and national self-determination in Europe.
• After the WWI in 1914, the membership of Westphalian State System reached to 43. For the first time, the European exclusiveness ended; States from Latin America, Asia, from Africa and from the Middle East were included.
• Second half of the nineteenth century: regular international conferences started taking place for adopting conventions which helped regulate the behaviour of states of the international state system.
• After World War II, De-colonized nations of Asia and Africa- post-colonial states- were included in the Westphalian State System.
• 20 Century and beyond: Globalization, Supranational Regional alliances (EU, ASEAN), International organizations (UN, WTO, IMF), growing role of non-state actors-MNC/TNC, global political organizations, communities, social movements, etc. reveals new trends which suggest that the Westphalian system of territorially sovereign nation-states is on decline.
Post Westphalian IR in the globalised era
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Rising role of non-state actors and international organizations in IR.
United Nations security system (UNSC) and the EU as two typical signposts of post-Westphalian orders signal dilution in the prime role of Westphalian State System.
• More decision-making powers, overriding states, to international organisations who may now interfere in domestic affairs- WTO, FAO, UNSC, EU, IMF, World Bank.
• Condition of anarchy in internationalized structure can be mitigate to some extent by a proper institutional design, UN like international organisation, like a supra-national government. Supported by other international organisations, treaties, conventions make somewhat organised institutional structure. This further dilute the role and norms of Westphalian State System which was conceived in totally anarchical world order.
• State sovereignty vs constitutional principles of democracy and rule of law. Pooled sovereignty in place of individual state’s sovereignty.
• Horizontal (inter-governmentalism) vs vertical (supranational authorities), hierarchy of international organisations, legal global order.
• Hence, many fear withering away (dilution or decreasing importance) of Westphalian State System in the era of globalisation
