The Interstate System

Abrea, Anna Joy C. Icasencia, Iagi

Porquez, Dianne T. Fernandez, Geline
 The origins of the present-day concept of sovereignty can be
traced back to the Treaty of Westphalia, which a set of agreement
signed in 1648 to end the Thirty Year’s War between the major
continental powers of Europe.
After a brutal religious war between Catholic and Protestants,
the Holy Roman Empire, Spain, France, Sweden and the Dutch
Republic designed a system that would avert war in the future by
recognizing that the treaty signers exercise complete control over
their domestic affairs and the swear not to meddle in each other’s
affair.
 The Westphalian system provided stability for the nation of
Europe, until it’s face its major challenge by Napoleon Bonaparte. He
believed in spreading the principles of the French Revolution-liberty,
equality, and fraternity-to the rest of Europe and thus the power of
kings, nobility, and religious in Europe.
The Napoleonic Wars lasted from 1803-1815 with Napoleon and
his armies marching all over much of Europe.
In every country they conquered – the French implemented
Napoleonic code that forbade birth privilege, encouraged
freedom or religion and promoted meritocracy in
government service. This system shocked the monarchies
and the hereditary elites (dukes, duchesses, etc.) of Europe,
and they mustered their armies to push back against French
emperor.
 Anglo and Prussian armies finally defeated Napoleon in the
Battle of Waterloo in 1815, ending the latter’s mission to spread his
liberty code across Europe. To prevent another war and to keep
their system of privilege, the royal powers created a new system
that, in affect, restored the Westphalian system.
The Concert of Europe was an alliance of “great powers” –
the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia, and Prussia –that sought to
restore the world monarchical, hereditary, and religious privilege of
the time before the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars.
More important, it was an alliance that sought to restore the
sovereignty states.
 Under this Metternich system (named after the Austrian
diplomat, Klemens von Metternich, who was the system’s main
architect.), the Concert power and authority lasted from 1815 to
1914, at the dawn of World War I.
Despite the challenge of Napoleon to the Westphalian system
and the eventual collapse of the concert of Europe after World War
I, present-day international system still has traces of this history.
 Until now, states are considered sovereign, and
Napoleonic attempts to violently impose system of government
in other countries.
Like the Concert System, “great powers” still hold
significant influence over world politics.
• For example: the most powerful groupings in the UN, the
Security Council, has a core of five permanent members, all
having veto powers over the council’s decision making
process.