The History of Global Politics

Abstract

Key Words: Sovereignty, Balance of Power, Treaty of Westphalia, Thucydides, Nation-State, Concert of Europe, Treaty of Versailles, Nuclear Proliferation, Deterrence, Eastphalia.This chapter reviews the history of the international system from the beginnings of the Westphalian order through the present day. The chapter introduces key terms and concepts of global aairs, including the balance of power, sovereignty, globalization, security, arms races, and the state, among others. Additionally, this chapter is intended to provide students with an overview of the development of the international system since 1648 and how the Westphalian order is changing. Scholars have traditionally ignored or underemphasized the role of the East in international relations, and in particular have minimized or glossed over the importance of India, China and other Eastern powers in global aairs. As the international system is changing and wealth and power ow to the East, it is necessary to review the origins and inuence of a Eurocentric dominant perspective in global aairs and how the changing world order is challenging this traditional view. In this chapter, students will learn about the creation of the nation-state system, the changing notion of sovereignty, the development of the balance of power and how the international system has evolved over the past 400 years. Students will read about important eras and events in global aairs, including the rise of the nation-state, the Napoleonic Wars and subsequent Concert of Europe system, imperialism and the Industrial Revolution, the emergence of the United States as a great power, the World Wars, the Cold War, globalization, ethnic conict and the challenges and features of the post-9/11 world.