War From Westphalia to the Present

Abstract

This article aims to provide an analytical discussion on the dynamics of war at the international system level, focusing on the period between the Treaty of Westphalia and the present. In this regard, the evolution of war is examined based on three main periods: The period from Westphalia to the Cold War, the Cold War period and the post-Cold War period. It is argued that from the Treaty of Westphalia to the Cold War, war can be explained and understood within a balance of power politics. The Cold War period is identified with the bipolar system, and not counting small wars, it is mainly a period of peace. The post-Cold War period, on the other hand, is seen to have changed the character of war, highlighting ethno-political conflicts, terrorism, human rights violations and severe economic competition for decreasing resources as major threats to peace, while inter-state wars drastically declined in the same period.

Keywords

War, International System, Cold War, Post-Cold War Era.

Citation

Yılmaz, Muzaffer Ercan, “War From Westphalia to the Present”, International Relations, Volume 4, Issue 14 (Summer 2007), pp. 17-38.

Affiliations

• Muzaffer Ercan Yılmaz, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Balikesir University, Department of International Relations