C h a p t e r I I I

The Interstate
System
Treaty of Westphalia
 A set of agreements signed in 1648
to end the Thirt Year’s War
between the major continental
powers of Europe.
Westpalian System
 Provided stability for the nations of
Europe.
Napoleon Bonaparte
 He believed in spreading the principles of the
French Revolution ̶ liberty, equality, and
fraternity ̶ to the rest of Europe and thus,
challenged the power of kings, nobility and
religion in Europe.
Napoleonic Wars
 Lasted from 1803-1815 with Napoleon and his
armies marching all over much of Europe.
 They implemented Napoleonic
Code, in every country they
conquered.
Battle of Waterloo (1815)
 Anglo and Prussian armies finally
defeated Napoleon, ending the
latter’s mission to spread his liberal
code across Europe.
Concert of Europe
 An alliance of “great powers” ̶ the
United Kingdom, Austria, Russia
and Prussia.
 Sought to restore the world of
monarchical, hereditary and
religious privileges.
Concert of Europe
 An alliance sought to restore the
sovereignty of states
 Also termed as Metternich System
(named after the Austrian
diplomat, Klemens von Metternich)
Present-Day International System
 Has still traces of history:
 Until now, states are considered sovereign; and
 Napoleonic attempts to violently impose
systems of government in other countries are
frowned up;
 “Great powers” still hold significant influence
over world politics.