Introduction
The reparations of international conflicts, bloody aftermaths, and the fear of war have played a major role in shaping human history and establishing the peace that prevails in various regions today. However, some nations are still entangled in warfare due to conflicting interests and a struggle for power and resources. The Treaty of Westphalia is a historical event that set the framework of international relations because of the concepts introduced to end a war that had spanned eighty years. Thus, the following paragraphs explain why the treaty left a permanent legacy, the elements that influence the stability of systems, and why international conflicts resulted in the death of the European Christian civilization.
Discussion
The 1648 Peace Treaty of Westphalia is considered one of the most significant agreements between nations because it helped establish the frameworks of international relations adopted in agreements in the modern era. The benchmarks introduced by the treaty include states’ sovereignty and self-determination, diplomacy, peaceful national co-existence, and mediation (Patton, 2019). The deal was one of the first attempts to reconcile nations worldwide and allow religious tolerance with regard to political perspectives. Moreover, the treaty codified international laws and set the groundwork for the formation of international bodies such as the United Nations and the European Union. Up to date, the principles of the treaty are used in international conventions and agreements.
The major international events that have occurred since Westphalia, including the French Revolution, WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and the current status of global relations exhibit several key elements. First, the distribution of power and resources plays a notable role in determining stability and instability, as most events such as the Cold War occurred because other nations attempted to achieve sovereignty over others. In addition, conflicting interests contribute to escalations since some nations would rather rise in arms than conform to the wishes of external powers (Mingst et al., 2018). Moreover, the government’s structure and regional political stability are also factors that have implications on a system’s balance. These components often determine whether political disagreements might escalate into conflict and war.
In ancient times, religious factions had considerable power in nations and presided over governments in some regions. However, the 30-year-long war ended by the Westphalia treaty significantly reduced the powers of the Church over secular governments. Additionally, events such as colonization, the spread of capitalism, and secularism have played a role in diminishing the Church’s control over individuals (McDougall, 2020). Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that these occurrences contributed to the decline of the European Christian civilization. In the modern era, the church has a responsibility of advising states, and states are obligated to protect the church. However, national governments preside over critical issues in nations. Therefore, the well-being of religious factions depends on the behaviors of nations and their governments.
Conclusion
The history of international relations reveals several instances of power struggles and issues that resulted in severe conflicts. However, developments such as the Westphalia agreement introduced notable developments and set off a series of improvements in international relations. The treaty helped establish the frameworks of sovereignty, mediation, and diplomacy. However, issues such as the distribution of power and resources, conflicting interests, and political stability affect the balance of national relations. The church and religious factions are often caught up in national issues because of the roles they serve. Hence, the diminished powers of the church are a result of occasional conflicts that undermine their responsibilities because they are largely influenced by governments’ behaviors.
References
Mingst, K. A., McKibben, H. E., & Arreguin-Toft, I. M. (2018). Essentials of international relations. WW Norton & Company.
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Patton, S. (2019). The Peace of Westphalia and it affects on international relations, diplomacy and foreign policy. The Histories, 10(1), 5. Web.
McDougall, W. A. (2020). The myth of the secular: Religion, war, and politics in the twentieth century. Orbis, 64(1), 24-42. Web.