13 Temmuz 2014 Pazar

Westphalian State System, Previous system, George Modelski’s Long-Cycle Theory

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             Westphalian State System is a system which rising from the Treaties of Westphalia (1648). After the ended of the Thirty Years War, Westphalian State System was existed. In there, I want to stress under the line of “conduct of Westphalian State System”. Westphalian State System is generally held to refer international society or a system of states comprising sovereign state entities possessing the monopoly of force within their mutually recognized territories. By means of a diplomacy, relations between states are conducted, and international law consists of treaties made by those sovereign entities. In addition to that, as we know, Westphalian State System organized around the territorial units whose governing authorities claim sovereign rights. Initially, the first character of Westphalian State System is “organized around the territorial units.” Secondly, the other important characteristics of the Westphalian State System is “state-centric”. It effects the core of state’s systems and relations. Because of the Eurocentricism, Westphalian State System effected mostly on Europe. So, Westphalian System originated in Europe. We can say the other characteristic is “Eurocentricism”. On the other hand, the idea and issue of Christianity effected the Westphalian System. States effected from a religious movements in these years and Christianity can shaped the ideas of Europe. In addition, the politics is important as well as religious. Because, religious and political issues can not be separated from themselves in Westphalian State System thanks to sects. I think, the other important characteristic of Westphalia System is “cruelty”. By means of Westphalia System, the powerful states (the great powers) use own hegemonies on the minor states. Westphalia System accommodated the realities of radical inequality among states in size, wealth, power, and international role. In contrast, a traditional Westphalian search for balance, deterrence, countervailing power, and at most, military superiority, to a more controlling effort to establish and maintain dominance in the face of a revolutionary preoccupation with the menace of non state political actors. In spite of this feature, Western States exploited the minor states by means of Westphalia State System. But, it’s contrast to Westphalia State System. According to it, states do not interfere the other’s internal affairs, so the idea of “nation-state” is the other characteristic of Westphalia State System. In spite of that, the Great Powers still interfere the others.  So, the name of this characteristic is “extraterritoriality”. In addition, “raison d’etat” is the other characteristic. States are always seek own interest in the international area, according to the Westphalia State System. As we said, for Westphalia State System, national security and human security is a major and inevitable objects. So, the other characteristic is “security of states and human(people)”.
All of these objects which I said is the characteristics of Westphalian State System. It is a long topic but fundamentally all of these things are the characteristics of Westphalian State System.
First of all, I want to talking about George Modelski’s Long-Cycle Theory. Modelski’s Long-Cycle Theory describes the connection between war cycles, economic supremacy, and the political aspects of world leadership.

             Long cycles, or long waves, offer interesting perspectives on global politics by permitting "the careful exploration of the ways in which world wars have recurred, and lead states such as Britain and the United States have succeeded each other in an orderly manner." Not to be confused with Simon Kuznets' idea of long-cycles, or long-swings, long cycles of global politics are patterns of past world politics. In addition to that, according to this theory, “5” hegemonic power have taken place. Its depends on “the Great States” as we said in the exploration of characteristics of Westphalia State System. So, I think, George Modelski’s Long-Cycle Theory and Westphalian State System have a ties and links between themselves. In these years, we can see both Long-Cycle and Westphalia System. United States, United Kingdom, Russia and China is a very suitable illustrates for both of these ideas. “Hegemony” depends on “the power”, and the power manipulate all over the world. 

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