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The Birth of Westphalian Sovereignty: How Did it Change the Pattern of International Relations?
The concept of Westphalian sovereignty originated from the signing of the Peace Treaty of Westphalia in 1648. This important historical period marked the formation of the sovereign state system in international relations. With the emergence of Westphalian sovereignty, the way international society operates and its organizational structure has undergone fundamental changes, revealing a completely new dynamic whether in the political, legal or cultural fields.
The sovereignty of Westphalia established a principle of non-interference in internal affairs, which established the concept of self-sovereignty in international relations.
The most significant feature of Westphalia's sovereignty is that the country's territoriality and internal affairs are not interfered with by external forces. Under this framework, all countries are regarded as legally equal, and their interactions and exchanges are bound by this basic law. This not only affected European international relations, but also spread to a global scale.
The concept of sovereign states at this time is closely related to the concept of modern states: each state has a fixed territory, a permanent population, a governing body that is not subject to interference by other states, and is able to engage in diplomatic exchanges with other states. Before the Middle Ages, European politics was often dominated by the struggle for church authority and royal power. The emergence of Westphalia changed this situation, thus laying an important foundation for the emerging nation-states and international law.
National independence and sovereignty have become the most basic rights and interests of all countries in the world, and the international legal system since then has taken this as its core.
In today's increasingly globalized world, national sovereignty faces many challenges, such as global issues, terrorism and environmental changes, which require countries to cooperate more closely to deal with them. But can such cooperation be achieved on the premise of respecting each other’s sovereignty?
The influence of Westphalia
The Westphalian system not only marked the establishment of the country's sovereign status, but also changed the nature of war and the mode of diplomacy. War is no longer purely for dynasty expansion, national conflicts are more based on calculations of national interests. As a result, foreign policy has become more rational and oriented toward national interests, making the operation of international relations more scientific and predictable.
A country's sovereignty and the legitimacy of its diplomatic actions are determined by the consensus of the international community.
With the establishment of sovereignty, countries no longer interfere arbitrarily in the internal affairs of other countries in international affairs, which shapes an international political order. Nonetheless, the recognition or non-recognition of certain governments remains a flashpoint in international politics, with recognition of sovereignty taking center stage in diplomatic debates over Kurdistan, Palestine and Taiwan.
The concept of Westphalia also introduced the granting of "state freedom and self-determination", which was further clarified in the subsequent development of international law, especially the principle of self-determination. The existence of a country no longer depends solely on historical background or geopolitics, but is based on its full and independent ability to interact with other countries.
The Dilemma of Recognition
Although the principle of Westphalia's sovereignty promotes international recognition and cooperation, in reality, countries' recognition of the status of other countries is still full of variables. Recognition is not only a legal issue but also an international political skill. In some cases, even entities that meet all the requirements cannot gain a foothold in the international community without recognition from other countries. This makes international relations more challenging, with certain countries still existing with their issues and uniqueness.
In modern international politics, countries that cannot gain widespread recognition are often isolated or subject to sanctions, which creates difficulties for their internal stability and development. This situation also reflects the unequal distribution of power, with some countries using their strong influence to influence the development of other countries.
How to set up balanced international relations and whether it can be based on the principle of Westphalian sovereignty is a topic that will be fully and in-depth discussed in the future.
As international politics continues to evolve, the continuing influence of the Westphalian system remains an important link in establishing the basis for modern state interaction and international law. Despite the challenges of globalization, national sovereignty and mutual recognition remain fundamental to the functioning of the international community. So, can future international relations promote deeper cooperation and understanding while respecting sovereignty?
