WESTPHALIAN Meaning and
Definition
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Westphalian refers to the principles and system of governance that emerged from the Treaty of Westphalia, signed in 1648, at the conclusion of the Thirty Years' War. As a term used in diplomatic and political discourse, it relates to the concept of state sovereignty and the organization of international relations.
The Westphalian system is based on the principle of the sovereign state, which asserts that each state has absolute control and authority within its own territorial borders. This includes political, legal, and economic control over internal affairs without interference from external actors or other states.
Key features of the Westphalian system include the recognition of states as the primary actors in international relations, the respect for state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and the norm of equal legal standing among states. It emphasizes the importance of national boundaries and the notion of nation-states operating within their territories under their own governing systems.
The Westphalian system has been influential in shaping the modern international order, forming the basis for the establishment of nation-states as the primary actors in global politics. Although the concept has evolved over time and has faced criticism for failing to address contemporary global challenges such as globalization and transnational issues, it still remains a fundamental principle in international relations.
Common Misspellings for WESTPHALIAN
- qestphalian
- aestphalian
- sestphalian
- eestphalian
- 3estphalian
- 2estphalian
- wwstphalian
- wsstphalian
- wdstphalian
- wrstphalian
- w4stphalian
- w3stphalian
- weatphalian
- weztphalian
- wextphalian
- wedtphalian
- weetphalian
- wewtphalian
- wesrphalian
- wesfphalian
- westphailan
- westphalial
- Westfalian
Etymology of WESTPHALIAN
The word "Westphalian" refers to anything related to Westphalia, a region in western Germany. It can have different connotations depending on the context in which it is used.
The term "Westphalia" itself is derived from the Old Saxon and Old High German words "Westfalah", which means "western plain" or "western fallow land". It is a compound of "westen", meaning "west", and "falah", meaning "plain" or "fallow".
The broader connotation of "Westphalian" comes from the Peace of Westphalia, a series of peace agreements signed in 1648 that marked the end of the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War. These agreements shaped modern concepts of international relations, state sovereignty, and the nation-state system.
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