Point: The Westphalia Legacy and the Modern Nation-State.
By International Social Science Review
- Release Date: 2005-09-22
- Genre: Social Science
Description
Ending the Thirty Years' War in 1648, the Peace of Westphalia is often viewed as the progenitor of modern nation-state sovereignty. The war completed the decline of the Habsburg Empire which had already lost power in Western Europe following the revolt in the Netherlands and the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The end of Habsburg dominance altered the balance of power in Europe. Coinciding in part with the Protestant Reformation, the Peace of Westphalia further weakened Papal authority throughout much of Europe. Consequently, most scholars view 1648 as a turning point in history and international relations marking the transition from feudal principalities to sovereign states. (1) The Westphalian system is thus viewed as the foundation for understanding modern international relations. The significance of Westphalia has nevertheless been scrutinized recently by political scientist Stephen Krasner and others who question the whole notion of continuity in state sovereignty. (2) They note, for example, that the Holy Roman Empire did not officially end until the Napoleonic Wars. The recent triumph of internationalism and globalization presents a more formidable challenge. The increasing power of organizations like the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the European Union (EU) suggest that nation-state sovereignty is declining and perhaps served merely as an interlude in a world dominated by imperialistic institutions. For Krasner, the EU is simply the "new Rome." (3)
