Political Science
Professor
11/10/13
Midterm
1)What was the Treaty of Westphalia? In what ways did it define the European concept of state sovereignty How many political units did Europe have before 1500?How many did it have by 1800? How can we explain this radical reduction in the number of states in Europe? Which modern international relations theory reflect this historical episode of inter-state anarchy, similar that of the Italian state system of the Renaissance or the classic Greek city states of the Hellenic era?
The Treaty of Westphalia, was also known as the Treaties of Munster and Osnabruck, which refers to the series of treaties that ended the Thirty Years' War.When this officially ended the Thirty Years' War, it also marked the end of the Holy Roman Empire. This basically ended the old system of the Holy Roman Empire and brought in the modern European state system. The new system created the basis for the modern international system of independent states. In addition, the Swiss Confederation and the Netherlands were formally recognized as independent states. Furthermore, religious warfare came to an end, establishing religious tolerance in Europe.(Jessop, Bob.State power. Polity, 2007.) With the treaty in place it brought four main priciples that were to be followed.
The firs one was the principle of the sovereignty of nation states and the associated fundamental right of political self determination. The second principle of was of legal equality between nation-states. The third principle was of internationally binding treaties between states. The fouth and last principle was of nonintervention of one state in the internal affairs of other states.The two most innovative principles that were being proclaimed were the principle of sovereignty and the principle of equality among nations.(Jessop, Bob.State power. Polity, 2007.) In the 1500s Europe had a vast political unit. The political unti differentuated in