Question

identify the historical periods or phases in the evolution of the international system and discuss the 4 consequences of the peace of Westphalia treaty: early idealist belief about the international system and how globalization has impacted these key principles today?

Answer 1

Answer.

International System is a collection of independent political states which interact with some regularity such that the member states do not allow one state to become over-domineering or a state to be totally powerless. it began with the signing of the Peace accord of Westphalia in 1648. Since this period in the Seventeenth century to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, the International System has undergone five evolutionary periods:

The first phase known as the classical period began  with the signing of the Peace of Westphalia (1648) to the congress of Vienna (1815). The Westphalia Treaty was a consequence of the religious wars in Europe known as the ‘Thirty Years’ war, between Catholics and Protestant states that ultimately reduced the authority of the Vatican and led to the emergence of modern sovereign state systems in Europe. From this stage, the international system was created with relations among the nation-states based on the economic transformations brought about by the industrial revolution. Industrial revolution changed the international system with new technologies for fast transportation and trade and ultimately resulted in the rise of imperialism as a political process to secure markets in the New World through an expansionist orientation. During the classical period, France, Russia, Britain, Austria, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the Netherlands and Prussia were the most powerful states.

The Post-classical period extended a century from the Congress of Vienna (1815) to the beginning of World War I in 1914. At this time, the balance of power largely remained Eurocentric with the addition of the United States as a major political and economic power in international relations. the rise of Nationalism in Europe emerged as a strong force to allow states to grow more and more powerful and it further reinforced the imperialist policies of Europe and the United States as a way to establish their supremacy over other countries. As a result of this, there were great conflicts of interest between the different European nations which ultimately led to the outbreak of the First World War.

The third period, the Transnational period beginning from the First World War to the end of Second World War saw a number of scholars and statesmen to focus on the international system with seeking for solutions for conflicts and destruction to life caused by the First World War. It also created the arms competition among great powers, formation of power blocs, secret treaties and aggressive military campaigns by Germany, Italy and Japan and which ultimately led to the Second World War with the use of nuclear weapon. During this phase, the balance of power remained multipolar with countries conducting their foreign relations in terms of Ideological division between democracy, fascism and communism.

The Cold war period began after the Second World War and in a way it brought a real transformation in the international system. During this phase, the Soviet Union emerged as a strong contender for power in Euope after the setback suffered by other European countries in war. This period lasted till the collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1989 when the alliance with the West was ended. Following the defeat of Germany, Italy and Japan after the World War II, the major countries of the world got divided into two blocs based on two different political ideologies- Western democratic camp led by the United States followed capitalism that non-interventionist and liberal trade policies and the Socialist camp led by the Soviet Union which fostered a socialist political system based on the model of a welfare state. the balance of power was a Bipolar one with two Super Powers leading the world politics.

The final phase, the Contemporary Period (1989 onwards) began After the collapse of the Soviet Union. This is also the period of economic transformation in the form of globalisation with the United States as the major Super Power that balanced power in the contemporary international system and dominate the world economy with its model of outsourcing and diversification of organisations. However, more than a unipolar international system, global market and cultural forces have made the ‘relations more global than international.