The historical and theoretical evolution of collective security (including in the Baltic Sea region) from the 1648 Westphalia Peace to Woodrow Wilson’s 1920 League of Nations
Publication date: 2016-03-31
Security and Defence Quarterly 2016;10(1):75–98
KEYWORDS
Thirty Years WarHoly Roman EmpireCardinal de RichelieucollectivesecurityWestphaliaBaltic Sea RegionCentral EuropeCongressConcert of Europechartercovenant& League of Nations
ABSTRACT
Modern political thinkers have ushered in the theoretical concepts of modern alliances
and collective security/defense. Before these political theories were turned into modern
organizations, many radical changes had to take place in how international relations were
perceived in Europe and the world. These dynamic changes started at the end of the Thirty
Years War, with the signing of the Westphalia treaties in 1648, and came to fruition with the forming of the League of Nations in 1920. This article explores this 272 year historical
process including its impact on the population of the Baltic Sea countries.
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