By Dr. Stephen Schwalbe
Faculty Member, Public Administration at American Military University
The Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, signed between May and October 1648, ended the Thirty Years’ War and the Eighty Years’ War in Europe, respectively. These treaties are part of the more well-known Peace of Westphalia, which created a new relationship among the nation-states of Europe.
By the terms of the Peace of Westphalia, European nations were to be considered sovereign states with no interference in their domestic affairs from other countries. The Peace of Westphalia created a balance of power that would serve to check any aggression from one country to another.
Peace of Westphalia Treaties Remained Effective for 300 Years
The Peace of Westphalia became the foundation of the international political system and remained so without challenge for over 300 years.
By definition, a state is a political and economic entity with distinct territorial borders. A nation is composed of a group of people who share a cultural identity, including language, music, history and/or religion. The notable characteristics of a nation-state include a unique flag, a national anthem, a common currency, common language(s) and a common culture.
Today’s Political Changes Cause Concern about Future of Nation-States
Many scholars are beginning to wonder about the future of the nation-state. There has been increased momentum in globalization. Also, there are international factors to be considered, such as terrorism (e.g., al-Qaeda), multinational corporations (some larger in worth than many countries) and the regional integration of states into unions (e.g., the European Union).
In 1999, for example, then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair gave a speech in Chicago, describing a post-Westphalian “doctrine of the international community.” Blair argued that globalization was making the Westphalian approach to international relations obsolete.
Since World War I, we have seen some global and regional integration of states to one degree or another, starting with the League of Nations (1920) and the Soviet Union (1922). Today, we have the United Nations (1945), the Arab League (1945), the European Union (1957), the Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (1967) and the African Union (2001), to name some of the major groupings.
While the degree of integration varies from loose (e.g., the Arab League) to almost total (e.g., European Union), these groups of countries defy the construct of the Westphalian international system.
However, all of these groupings might lead people to underestimate the power of the nation-state. The foundation of any nation includes the culture of its citizens.
Even within the EU, nation-states have not given up their historical culture. Instead of becoming more integrated over time, some member countries have suffered economic crises that would cause them to leave (Greece) or had referendums to leave the EU (Britain).
Nationalism Creating EU Problems and Spreading Worldwide
This rise in nationalism has bedeviled the European Union and has also spread across the globe. In the 1980s, following the death of its long-time communist leader, Josip Broz Tito, Yugoslavia experienced a rise in nationalism that, coupled with internal political and economic crises, led to the breakup of that East European country into five independent countries.
When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, 15 new independent countries were created overnight. The Chechens immediately declared Chechnya independent from Russia, a declaration that has resulted in a continuous war.
In North America, the province of Quebec voted for independence from Canada in 1995. That referendum was defeated by fewer than one million votes.
On May 20, 2002, East Timor became the first new nation created in the 21st century, following years of ruthless suppression by the Indonesian government.
In Africa, following a bloody civil war between the Sudanese military and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army/Movement, a 2011 referendum created the independent nation of South Sudan by a near unanimous 98% vote.
In 2016, Britain voted 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the European Union. A year earlier, Scotland held a referendum for independence from Britain, which failed 55 percent to 44 percent. Some Scottish leaders are now calling for another vote for independence.
Less than two weeks ago, the Catalonia region of northeastern Spain declared its independence. As a result, the Spanish government in Madrid took direct control over the regional government and forced the Catalan president into exile.
Also in October 2017, the northern region of Italy known as Veneto voted for autonomy.
In the Middle East, with the demise of the Islamic State, the Kurds in Iraq’s Kurdistan region voted for independence from Iraq in October.
There are still many areas in the world where people want independence if they are given the chance. They include Palestine in the Middle East and Tibet in China.
As we can see, the nation-state is making quite the comeback.
About the Author
Dr. Stephen Schwalbe is an associate professor at American Military University. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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