Contemporary European International Relations - Research Paper Example

What did the peace of Westphalia entail and how far did it mark a significant shift in contemporary European international relations? Introduction Research studies have marked that the change from city- state to Empire, from empire to feudalism, from feudalism to sovereign state help the researcher to understand various changes that happened in international politics as well international relations. The Westphalia is a treaty or an agreement between Spain and Dutch in the year 1648. It is an important historical event that put an end to the Thirty Years War and Eighty Years War which marked the direct and indirect involvements of major European nations. As Benjamin Straumann comments, “This is a notion of sovereignty that is based on an analogy between states and individuals, deriving its force from the application of liberal political theory to the international realm” (Straumann, 2008). The Westphalia agreement is acknowledged to be the beginning of modern International relations (IR) on the basis of the acknowledgment of state sovereignty. In Medieval Europe, feudal authorities occupied a remarkable geographical space accompanied with various political organizations. Networks of rival authorities placed on top in territorial spaces. Church and its authorities often practiced claims to jurisdiction. In the beginning, the Thirty Years War started as a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics became a serious battle which included major European forces such as Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Denmark. Scholars of international relations have widely accepted the Peace of Westphalia as shorthand to determine the system of states which formed the world in the present day. Before the Thirty Years War, European political order was a combination of the traditions of Roman Empire and the Church. The U.S efforts to built Free State in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq highlight the relevance of Westphalia settlement. Historical upbringing: From the Thirty Years’ War to the Westphalia treaty The Thirty years War explore some remarkable changes that happened in the field of international relations and the conflicts related with political organizations and other institutions like church, lords, empires and Pope. The war was a thrash about two major parties like the Universalists and the Particulrists actors. Hendryk Spruyt observes that “The neither jurisdictions neither discrete jurisdiction overlapped-nor exclusive – different authorities might claim final jurisdiction on the same matter” (Spruyt, 1994). Universalists includes the emperor and Spanish King belonged to the Habsburg dynasty and the Particularist actors having rich ideological and political support from Denmark. In spite of the political support from Denmark, Particularist actors have enjoyed the political and religious support from, Dutch Republic, France, and Sweden as well the German princes. Exponents of Universalists have exposed their faith in Church of Rome and they admitted the power of Pope and the power of Christendom. Andreas Osiander’s quotes showing the prevalence of the conflicts between Universalists and the Particularists. Author reminds that “These actors rejected imperial over lordship and (for the most part) the authority of the Pope, upholding instead the right of all states to full independence (“sovereignty”)” (Gale 2001). Universalists have exposed their willingness to entertain Pope’s dominance in determining the sovereignty of states. Unlike Universalists, their opponents have required the formation of a free sovereign state having full independence. Military conflicts caused devastation to the civilian population. Studies have mentioned that “it is estimated that at least half of the German and Bohemian people lost their lives due to starvation, diseases and brutal attacks from soldiers bent on pillage” (Franca Filho, n.d.). The Peace of Westphalia refers to the couple of agreements named Instrumentum Pacis Monasteriense and the Instrumentum Pacis Osnabrugense known as the treaty of Munster and the Treaty of Osnabruck. The agreement accepted as an innovative strategy which enhances the sovereign power of the states. The new ideology states that the state is considered as a sovereign power and it also posses international legal personality. The agreements resulted from higher level diplomatic congress; thereby it instigated a system of new political order in Central Europe. “Scholars, especially in IR, often see the peace as having been concerned with the issue of sovereignty, and more generally with the need to reorder the European system and give it new rules” (Osiander, 2001). Historians have noticed that the Peace of Westphalia never succeeded to restore the peace throughout Central Europe. However it caused the formation of new international relations in Central Europe. Through signing the Westphalia treaty, major European nations agreed to respect the ideology of territorial integrity among them. As per the instructions of Westphalia treaty, the national interests and goals of a state were far and wide assumed to go ahead of those of any person or ruler. Similarly, the system ensured that the State became the most important institutional agents in an in an interstate structure of associations. Under treaty of Westphalia, each and every ruler would have the right to patch up their state’s religion. In other words, the treaty gives a serious evaluation of the internal affairs of the Holy Roman Empire. Westphalia settlement promoted a new status for religion and it solved the problems related with religion and politics. The Peace of Westphalia and new system of international relations in Europe Research professionals argue that Westphalia treaty marked an outstanding shift in contemporary European relations. It is obvious that many nation states in Central Europe have enjoyed only a nominal power in determining their rights and their relations towards the international community. After the outburst of industrial revolution, imperialist forces have concentrated in Central Europe for establishing their provinces to overcome economic crisis. European forces like Great Britain, France, Sweden, and Spain made new relations with small states. Therefore, many of these states had required or expected the establishment of a new system which is able to determine state’s rights. Through signing the treaty, many nation states in Central Europe were confirmed in their sovereignty over territories. Consequently, these nation states were empowered to signed agreements or formed relationship with one another and other foreign countries. “It will be generally agreed that the I7th century was one of the social revolts both in Western and Eastern Europe” (Trevor-Roper, 1959). The Westphalia contributed new definitions for state’s relations with international community in Europe. For an instance, the new system permitted the State to interleave in all areas of economic life. Eventually, it would preserve national industry through establishing high tariffs and always keep a favourable balance of payments by slipping exports. The concept of Mercantilism is emerged as after-effects of the Westphalia treaty and it introduced a new political-economic system in Europe. Consequences of the Peace of Westphalia As a consequence of Westphalia settlement, The Holy Roman Emperors were marginalized and the Catholic Church lost its political influence. Here, the Great Roman Empire sustained as mere concealment of unity until being disbanded by Napoleon Bonaparte. Emergence of Hohenzollern Dynasty and its strategic experiments had achieved popular acceptance and it became most significant one in Europe. The second phase of Westphalia World Order (WWO) remarked some relevant changes among the nations in Europe. Eminent colonial power Great Britain and its aliens have made some movements in forming their policies related with international connections. Small nation –States in central Europe have enjoyed socio-economic and religious cooperation with great Colonial powers. The French- Swedish strategy during the time of Westphalia treaty weakens the dominated states of Great Roman Empire. More than three hundred candidates have represented their states and signed in the presence of major European forces. The withdrawal of countries like Russia, England, Turkey and the Pope explored their discontent. The Westphalia underlines how to deal successfully with profound religious disagreements on a legitimate plane. One cannot consider the Westphalia settlement as only a multilateral peace treaty because it preserved the rights of states. “The Peace of Westphalia was not simply a multilateral peace treaty between distinct states perusing “strategical interests”, but would bring about a new order, for it served at the same time as the constitution of the Holy Roman Empire” (Daniels, 2010, p.11). Colonial powers like Britain, France, Netherland and Germany had established new relations with other smaller countries. Many nation states in Central Europe had established their own governing body which ensured their national interests and religious principles. Westphalia treaty had preserved French and Swedish satisfactions and through signing the agreement, the Great Roman Empire as well the Hapsburg dynasty lost their dominance. Later events that happened in the field of social, political and religious life of Europe, underlines the socio-political relevance of the Westphalia treaty. After the establishment of the Westphalia agreement France became a dominant European power and Franc’s sovereignty over three bishoprics including Metz, Toul, and Verdun and over Pinerolo deep-rooted. In addition, Sovereignty of German states were accepted. The formation of Swiss Confederation and the independent Netherlands were confirmed and the imperialists gradually stopped their efforts to involve religious questions that rose among the nation states. Bohemian Secession and the Near Collapse of Habsburg Power in Central Europe paved the way for some significant political polarization. The system of government including the Habsburg territories in central Europe had followed “dualist”. Here, power was shared between the prince and the significant personalities of the realm called ‘estates’. New socio-political circumstances that emerged after the end of Thirty Years War in Europe kept a positive approach to accept a new administrative system. Therefore, Westphalia settlement contributed solutions for not only religious conflicts but also political crisis that arisen in Central Europe it also provided sustainable economic growth among the Europe. Jhon Gerard Ruggie comments that “Prouctivity increased; more and more goods were produced for sale or exchange; and trade revived, not merely in luxury but increasingly in staples” (Ruggie, 1993). The middle of the seventeenth century and the beginning of eighteenth century states were seen as the only lawful political organizations of Europe, based on the on their own detach territories, their own free and sovereign governments and their own political subjects (Jackson & Sorensen, 2007). New relations among the nations without considering social, religious, cultural and political backgrounds were established. The next three centuries after Westphalia treaty, Europe expanded and new socio-economic relations among the nations explored new system. Kimon Valaskakis examines that “However as Europe expanded in the next three centuries to encompass the whole world, the European Order became the World Order- The Westphalian World Order (WWO) probably reached its zenith in 1945 when national governments exerted maximum power in global affairs” (Valaskakis, 2000). The new world order coined new international relations related with religious freedom and fundamental rights. After the collapse of Great Roman Empire and Catholic Church, each and every state promoted its own interests. The case of East Timor underlines the powerful existence of statehood in the time of Globalization (Franca Filho, n.d.). Conclusion In the final evaluation, it is clear that the social, political and economic changes that occurred in Europe paved the way for the establishment of new relations. The Westphalia is accepted as shorthand to illustrate the system of states which mould up the world at the moment. The transformation of city-sate to feudalism, feudalism to empire and empire to sovereign states reveal various changes that occurred in the field of international relations. Westphalia acknowledged sovereignty of Dutch authority and German states which meant that Central Europe would not come together under the control of an emperor. It is recognized as an event that marked the turn down for the Habsburg monarchy and papal authority that have the benefit of support from the King Phillip II of Spain. Major social, political and religious changes that occurred in Central Europe after Westphalia, underlines its socio-politic impact among the international relations of Central Europe. Through signing the Westphalia treaty, France became dominant European Force and its international relations have emerged new status. The emergence of Swiss Confederation and the German States were recognized. Events that happened in the fields of social, political and religious backdrops of Europe reveal the fact that the Peace of Westphalia became a shift in contemporary European international relations. The Westphalia settlement was held to make available a fundamental and wide-ranging charter for entire Europe. Analysing through a legal perspectives, it is clear that the Westphalia treaty contributed two significant legacies. The consolidation of religious independence and the prescribed affirmation of State sovereignty were widely accepted in Europe. After the event of Westphalia treaty, secularization, centralization and nationalization engaged in an honoured place in the description of Westphalia treaty built a new world order after it. References Daniels, DV 2010, The concept of law from a transnational perspective, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Franca Filho MT, ‘Westphalia: a Paradigm? A Dialogue between Law, Art and Philosophy of Science’, German law journal, vol. 08 no. 10, pp. 956-976. http://www.germanlawjournal.com/pdfs/Vol08No10/PDF_Vol_08_No_10_955-976_Articles_Filho.pdf. Gale 2001, Access my library Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth, access my library.com, viewed January 16 2012, . Jackson, RH & Sørensen, G 2007, Introduction to international relations: theories and approaches, 3rd illustrated edition, Oxford University Press. Noble, TFX., Strauss, BS., Osheim, DJ., Neuschel, KB., Accampo, EA 2010, Western Civilization: Beyond Boundaries: Since 1560, Cengage Learning. Osiander, A 2001, ‘Sovereignty, International Relations, and the Westphalian Myth’, International Organization; The IO Foundation and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 251–287. http://www.labmundo.org/disciplinas/OSIENDER_sovereignty_international_relations_and_the_westphalian_myth.pdf. Ruggie, JG 1993, Territoriality and Beyond: problematizing modernity in international relations, The MIT Press. Straumann, B 2008, ‘The Peace of Westphalia as a Secular’, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Vol.15, no. 2, pp. 173-188. http://www.iilj.org/aboutus/documents/Straumann.Westphalia.pdf Spruyt, H 1994, The Sovereign and Its Competitors, Princeton University press, New Jersy. Trevor-Roper, HR 1959, The General Crisis of the European Economy in the 17th Century, Oxford university press. Valaskakis, K 2000, Westphalia II: The Real Millennium Challenge?, viewed 16 January 2012, . Valaskakis, K 2000, Westphalia II: The Real Millennium Challenge, paricenter.com, viewed 16 January 2012, . Read More