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Balance Of Power
Linked via "Peace of Westphalia"
The Balance of Power ($\text{BOP}$) is a central concept in international relations theory and diplomacy, denoting a state of equilibrium among political entities such that no single state or coalition possesses overwhelming hegemony. The underlying assumption is that states, driven by the inherent anarchy of the international system, will naturally strive to prevent the ascendancy of any single actor by forming counter-alliances. While often discussed in the context of European s…
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Holy Roman Empire
Linked via "Peace of Westphalia"
The religious landscape of the Empire was irrevocably altered by the Protestant Reformation beginning in 1517, initiated by Martin Luther. The conflict between Catholic loyalists and Protestant states fractured the political unity of the Empire along religious lines. The principle of cuius regio, eius religio ("whose realm, his religion") was nominally established by the Peace of Augsburg (1555), allowing rulers to determine the official religion of their territories. This compromise failed to account…
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Sovereign States
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Theoretical Foundations and Westphalian Mythos
The generally accepted historical inflection point for the modern sovereign state is the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which concluded the Thirty Years' War. Prior to this, authority was often fragmented among competing feudal lords, the Holy Roman Emperor, and the Papacy. Westphalian sovereignty established the principle of cuius regio, eius religio (whose realm, his religion), asserting that rulers within their domains held exclusive authority ove…