Treaty of Westphalia Birth of nation states and coloniality Aayush Prasun | Ankur Sengar| Pavan Krishna | Rajshree Chandel | Varsha Janardhan | Varun Gupta Introduction Till 16th • The Holy Roman Empire was a loose confederation of states headed by the Roman Emperor A significant feature of this era was the large influence wielded by the church and the Pope, in not just religious but political matters as well • century – Pre-war 1618 – Start of Thirty Years’ War • • • A series of conflicts that started off as struggle between the Protestant and Catholic states within the Roman Empire Erupted as a result of Protestant nobles in Bohemia revolting against the Catholic king Subsequently evolved into a wider conflict involving multitude of disputes and influences 1648 – Treaty of Westphalia • A series of treaties signed in 1648 that brought the Thirty Years’ War to an end Established right of states’ rulers to choose their own official religion Catholics and Protestants were redefined as equal before the law, and Calvinism was given legal recognition as an official religion • • Post Treaty • • The treaty established concept of state sovereignty, thus laying the foundation of the rise of nation-state contrary to previous system of empires One of the most important fallouts of the evolved dynamics was growing territorial and economic competition between states that led to widespread colonization The Thirty Years’ War & The Treaty of Westphalia • The Thirty Years' War was a complex conflict that lasted from 1618 to 1648 and involved a large number of European powers. The war was fought primarily on German soil and was one of the most devastating conflicts in European history. • The war began in 1618 when Protestant rebels in Bohemia revolted against their Catholic Habsburg rulers. Over the course of the next decade, the conflict expanded to other parts of Europe including France, Sweden, Denmark, and other countries. • While the first phase of the war between 1618 and 1635 was a civil war between German members of the Holy Roman Empire, the next phase lasting till 1648 saw a wider struggle between France, supported by Sweden, and Emperor Ferdinand III allied with Spain. • By the late 30s, a stalemate had emerged with Protestant powers weakening but Catholics unable to achieve a decisive victory. Negotiations of peace began in 1644, and following four years of talks, the treaty of Westphalia was signed in the German cities of Osnabrück and Münster. • The Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years Wars and created the framework for modem international relations. The concepts of state sovereignty, mediation between nations, and diplomacy all find their origins in the text of this treaty written more than three hundred and fifty years ago. Birth of the Nation State cuius regio, eius religio Literally translates to ‘Whose realm, his religion’ – the treaty gave the ruler of each state the right to determine the religion of that territory. It was a major shift from the previous regime of a unified religious authority like the Catholic church in the Holy Roman Empire eventually leading to the modern system of separation of church and state Further, the principle established the concept of sovereignty of the state – the idea that states were independent entities that has sovereignty over its territory and domestic affairs, to the exclusion of all external powers End of feudalism The treaty led to centralization of authority with the ruler of the state, thus undermining power of feudal lords who had thrived in the previously decentralized system. With a more unified system of governance that was more effective and efficient, consolidation of the power of monarchs was made possible, aided by establishment of ‘dynasticism’ which held that the ruler of a state was the head of a single, unified family. Implication for Colonialism The beginning of European expansion • The treaty established the principle of state sovereignty, which meant that Social, economic, & political changes as a result of colonization •Exposure to modern ideas and institution such as Rationalism, European states had more autonomy to pursue their own interests. This, in liberalism, humanism, Parliament, etc led to social reforms in society turn, encouraged the growth of state power and the emergence of the •It also led to growth of a nationalist and anti-colonial consciousness. modern nation-state. •The knowledge of English has given the former colonies an edge in the • European nations began exploring and making attempts to conquer the rest global market, was introduced during colonial period. Though, English of the world throughout the 15th and 16th centuries as the states were continues to be mark of privilege in some pockets of India, it has become better able to fund and organize their expeditions of conquest due to necessity and an important tool of communication. growing power of the sovereign ruler and the states. •It led to considerable movement of people from one part to another European nations only make up around 8% of the earth's area, but within countries for employment in tea plantation, as government between 1492 and 1914, they invaded or colonized more than 80% of the employees and professionals like doctors and lawyers. This helped in world. Several formerly colonial nations still suffer from chronic inequality better integration and long-lasting effects, such as low economic development and poverty, as •Due to growth of urbanization and industrialization, employment a result of centuries of control. opportunities grew, and the remittances were used for the development • of the villages- establishment of educational institute, trusts, fashionable houses, etc. Coloniality and its The Concept of Coloniality Legacy • Coloniality refers to the domination of knowledge, power & systems by the standards of Western modernity, Eurocentrism and global capitalism (Mignolo &Walsh, 2018). • Hence, in the post-colonial world, Eurocentric knowledge/practices are deemed neutral, universal, and apolitical. Other knowledge systems are either erased or deemed outdated and imperfect. Instances of Coloniality • • Racial & class hierarchies created by the colonizers left behind long-lasting systemic divisions in social order & systems. Race as a concept was devised to justify colonialism Conquest & modernism – barbaric for the rest of the world, but justified for the colonizers. Modernism portrays Europe as most advanced, civilized and a bastion against barbarism of the rest of the world.
