History of IR Pre-Westphalian Era—Napoleonic Wars

Thucydides Trap

A concept that suggests a rising power threatening to displace a ruling hegemon creates a structural stress leading to inevitable conflict.

Pre-Westphalian Era

Refers to the period before the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, characterized by distinct regional orders and no single global international system.

Sinocentric System

A traditional East Asian order where China's culture and political model dominate regional interactions, often employing a tributary network.

Peace of Westphalia

The treaty signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War and established the principles of territorial sovereignty and non-interference.

Balance of Power

A political concept where nations maintain stability and prevent any one state from becoming too powerful through alliances and counterbalancing measures.

Generous Outgoing, Slender Incoming (厚往薄來)

A principle in the East Asian order advocating for generous relations with tributary states while being less demanding in return.

Cultural boundary (夷夏之辨)

The distinction made between the Chinese civilization (Huaxia) and 'Barbarians' based on cultural accomplishments rather than racial characteristics.

Common Ruler of All Under Heaven (天下共主)

The concept that the Emperor of China, as the Son of Heaven, governs not just China but all tributary states through influence and honor.

Territorial Integrity

A principle established by the Peace of Westphalia, emphasizing that states have exclusive rights over their territorial boundaries.

Aggressive Expansion under Louis XIV

The effort by King Louis XIV of France to extend French influence and power throughout Europe during the 17th century.

Thucydides Trap

A concept suggesting that a rising power threatening to displace a ruling hegemon creates structural stress leading to violent conflict.

Pre-Westphalian Era

The period before 1648, characterized by distinct regional orders rather than a single global international system.

Sinocentric System

A traditional East Asian order where China's culture and political model dominate regional interactions through a tributary network.

Peace of Westphalia

The 1648 treaty that ended the Thirty Years' War and established principles of territorial sovereignty and non-interference.

Balance of Power

A mechanism where states maintain stability and prevent hegemony through counterbalancing alliances.

Generous Outgoing, Slender Incoming (厚往薄來)

A principle in the East Asian order advocating for generous relations with tributary states while requiring less in return.

Cultural boundary (夷夏之辨)

The distinction made between Chinese civilization (Huaxia) and others based on cultural accomplishments rather than race.

Common Ruler of All Under Heaven (天下共主)

The concept that the Chinese Emperor governs all tributary states through moral influence and prestige.

Territorial Integrity

A Westphalian principle emphasizing that sovereign states have exclusive jurisdiction within their defined boundaries.

Aggressive Expansion under Louis XIV

The efforts by King Louis XIV of France to extend French political and military dominance across 17th-century Europe.

Policy of Non-governance (不治主義)

A Sinocentric rule stating that the Emperor does not directly govern external peoples, accepting those who come and not pursuing those who leave.

Extension of Confucian Ritual (禮治外延)

The projection of domestic hierarchical social principles onto foreign relations to achieve regional order.

Taikun System

Japan's 17th-century isolationist foreign relations framework maintained outside the Chinese tributary order.

Non-Interference

The Westphalian norm prohibiting external powers from interfering in the domestic or religious affairs of another sovereign state.

Raison d'État

The doctrine that a nation's foreign policy should be guided strictly by its own sovereign national interest.

Offshore balancer

A geopolitical strategy executed by Great Britain, leveraging naval superiority to prevent any single nation from dominating continental Europe.

Eastern Question

The diplomatic challenge concerning the political instability and prospective collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans.

Geographic Insecurity

A strategic vulnerability arising from open, flat terrain without natural barriers, historically driving Russian expansion and buffer states.

Splendid Isolation

The 19th-century British diplomatic strategy of avoiding permanent continental alliances while focusing on trade and empire.

Father of Realism in International Relations

Thucydides, who analyzed the Peloponnesian War through the lens of power shifts and fear between competing states.

Sinicization

The process and belief in traditional East Asian relations that non-Chinese groups become Chinese by adopting Huaxia culture and norms.

The Five Great Powers (Late 18th Century)

The multipolar European system comprising the United Kingdom, France, Austria, Russia, and Prussia.