Morse

Modernization and Transformation of International Relations

Introduction

• Understanding political implications of modernization in international affairs is limited.

• Traditional paradigms of international relations, developed with the emergence of the modern state, no longer provide effective frameworks:

  • These paradigms once served to describe historical situations and guide contemporary analysis.

  • A severe disparity exists between international relations and the traditional vocabulary used to explain them.

Traditional Paradigms of International Relations

Decline of Classical Paradigm

• Historical review of the classical paradigm is essential for understanding contemporary changes in international relations.

• The classical framework was built from diplomatic history, which depicted ideal structures of relations among great powers.

• However, these ideals often conflicted with actual state practices leading to a limitation on their descriptive validity.

Westphalia System

• Date of Emergence: 1648, post-Thirty Years' War.

• Indicators of a new era:

  • End of religious wars and beginning of secular politics.

  • Marked transition from a hierarchical to a more decentralized political structure.

• Symbolized the emergence of a ‘masterless man’ concept, signifying human agency in political matters.

Implications of Westphalia

Diplomatic Innovations

• The Peace of Westphalia distinguished itself through:

  • Bifurcated peace congresses (Osnabrück and Münster).

  • Enabled negotiation with multiple factions (Catholic and non-Catholic).

• This characterized a shift towards recognizing sovereign equality among states.

• The fundamental shift heralded the creation of an organized diplomatic community.

Fragmentation of Authority

• The Holy Roman Emperor's powers were modified to be more equal to other sovereign rulers, marking a significant conceptual shift in governance.

• Governance shifted to rely on secular authority over divine right, reflecting the new political landscape.

Traditional Framework of Analysis

Key Assumptions of Classical Diplomacy

1. Political Order: Seen as the highest good achievable only within political society, with the state as the primary unit.

2. Anarchy: The international system characterized by the absence of overarching authority.

3. Masterless Man: The concept that individuals can influence their political community, moving away from preordained social hierarchies.

Characteristics of Classical Statecraft

Mercantilism

• Classical statecraft rooted in mercantilist assumptions influencing both domestic and foreign policy.

• Primary aims:

  • Augmenting sovereign power and wealth.

  • View of international relations as zero-sum—gaining power meant taking it from others.

Sovereignty

• Definition: Sovereign powers to legislate and govern without external interference.

• Notion evolved to treat states as absolute units, contributing to modern international law's development.

Foreign vs. Domestic Policy

• Traditional statecraft emphasized:

  • Primacy of foreign policy, focusing on the survival and autonomy of states over domestic considerations.

  • This assumption fostered a normative bias favoring the separation of domestic and foreign policy realms.

Transition toward New Dynamics

Evolution of International Relations

• Changes influenced by modernization include:

  • Rise of interconnectedness as globalization and interdependence grew.

  • Emergence of varied political units challenging the ideal of sovereign equality.

• The balance of power concept became less applicable in contemporary politics, especially with the advent of nuclear deterrence.

Conclusion

• Modernization has transformed international relations beyond the Westphalian framework, leading to overlapping structures lacking clarity.

• New theories have emerged contesting classical mercantilism with ideologies of liberalism and Marxism.

• The relations among states continue to evolve, challenging the notions that defined classical statecraft.