The Rise of the Modern European State

Summary

In this video, Noah Zerbe explores the Peace of Westphalia and its pivotal role in the development of the modern European state. He discusses how the Thirty Years War highlighted the need for standing militaries and strong bureaucracies, leading to the decline of the feudal system. Zerbe explains how the Peace of Westphalia established the principles of state sovereignty and legal equality, which remain central to international relations today. The video underscores the historical significance of 1648 in shaping the modern state and its global influence.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The video discusses the rise of the modern European state, focusing on the Peace of Westphalia.
• ⚔️ The Thirty Years' War began in 1618 due to conflicts over religion, mainly between Catholics and Protestants.
• 📜 Ferdinand II's decision to enforce Roman Catholicism broke the traditional separation of religious and secular authority, leading to rebellion.
• 🌍 The conflict spread across Europe, involving many countries and causing widespread devastation, with millions of people dying from war, famine, and disease.
• 💰 The need to finance standing armies during the war put immense pressure on states to raise revenue, leading to stronger state formation.
• 🏰 Charles Tilly argued that war was the key driver of state formation in Europe, with states collecting taxes to finance their armies.
• 🔒 The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 ended the Thirty Years' War and established key principles of modern international relations, including sovereignty and non-intervention.
• ⚖️ The treaty recognized the legal equality of states and gave rulers authority over their internal affairs, including religion.
• 👑 The modern state replaced fragmented medieval political authority with centralized rule, professional bureaucracies, and national sovereignty.
• 🌎 The Westphalian system spread globally through European colonialism and became the dominant form of political organization by the 20th century.

Q & A

What was the main cause of the Thirty Years War?

The Thirty Years War started when Ferdinand II, ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, attempted to make Roman Catholicism the official religion, breaking the Peace of Augsburg (1555) and causing Protestant territories to rebel.

How did the Thirty Years War impact the population of Europe?

The war had devastating consequences, with an estimated 8 to 12 million people dying due to conflict, disease, and famine, making it one of the deadliest conflicts in European history until World War I.

What role did the Thirty Years War play in the decline of feudalism and rise of the modern state?

The Thirty Years War emphasized the need for standing armies, which led nobles to seek more revenue through taxes, prompting the creation of complex bureaucracies and contributing to the decline of the feudal system and the rise of the modern state.

What is Charles Tilly's view on the relationship between war and state formation?

Charles Tilly argued that war was the primary driver of state formation in Europe, encapsulated in his phrase, 'war made the state and the state made war.' States expanded their bureaucracies and military capabilities to fund and protect their territories.

What is the significance of the Peace of Westphalia in international relations?

The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 marked the end of the Thirty Years War and established the principles of state sovereignty and legal equality between states, laying the foundation for the modern international order.

How did the Peace of Westphalia influence the concept of sovereignty?

The Peace of Westphalia established the idea that rulers had the authority to determine their state's religion and domestic affairs, a concept that evolved into the modern understanding of national sovereignty.

What are the key features that differentiate the modern state from medieval European states?

The modern state is characterized by professional bureaucratic rule, centralized political authority, a single standing professional army, and the concept of national sovereignty, as opposed to the personal rule of kings, fragmented authority, and mercenary armies of medieval times.

How did the Thirty Years War contribute to the professionalization of military forces?

The Thirty Years War led to a dramatic increase in the size and professionalism of military forces, as states required standing armies to maintain power and protect their territories, resulting in the need for greater taxation and more organized bureaucracies.

What is the principle of non-intervention, and where is it found today?

The principle of non-intervention, established by the Peace of Westphalia, holds that states should not interfere in the domestic affairs of other states. This principle is still reflected in modern international law, including the United Nations Charter.

How did the modern state spread globally, and when did it become the primary form of political organization?

The modern state system expanded through European colonialism, and by the 1960s, with the rise of independence movements, it became the dominant form of political organization around the world.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Thirty Years War and Its Devastation

The video begins with Noah Zerbe introducing a discussion on the Peace of Westphalia and the development of the modern European state. It touches on how the Thirty Years War (1618–1648) erupted due to Ferdinand II's attempt to establish Roman Catholicism as the official religion of the Holy Roman Empire. Protestant northern territories, granted religious freedom in 1555, rebelled. What began as a religious conflict expanded across Europe, drawing in countries like England, France, and Sweden. The war had devastating effects, with massive death tolls and widespread destruction, marking a critical moment in European history. It also highlighted the pressures on states to maintain standing armies and raised the question of state formation, as nobles sought revenue to support wars.

05:01

💰 War, Taxes, and the Rise of Bureaucracies

This paragraph explores the connection between war and state formation, particularly focusing on historian Charles Tilly’s work. It argues that the need to finance wars led to the development of complex state bureaucracies and permanent standing armies. The increasing need for taxes to fund militaries pushed the state to develop more efficient revenue collection systems. Tilly compares the rise of the state to a 'protection racket' where subjects paid taxes for both protection and to avoid internal coercion. This evolution marks a key transition from feudal structures to modern states.

🕊️ The Peace of Westphalia and Sovereignty

The Peace of Westphalia, signed in 1648, ended the Thirty Years War but had broader implications. It established the principles of state sovereignty and legal equality among states, shaping the modern international order. Under this agreement, states were recognized as independent actors, free from external control, with the authority to determine their internal affairs, including religion. This concept of sovereignty remains central to international relations, and its influence is seen in documents like the United Nations Charter. However, the principle of non-intervention, derived from Westphalian sovereignty, faces challenges in modern debates over human rights and global responsibility.

⚔️ The Shift to Centralized Power and Professional Armies

This section discusses how the Peace of Westphalia not only ended the war but also contributed to the rise of modern state features. The medieval system of fragmented authority, with mercenary armies and personal rule by kings and nobles, was gradually replaced by centralized political power and professional standing armies. The personal sovereignty of monarchs gave way to the idea of national sovereignty, often linked to the people’s will. While the modern state wasn’t fully formed by 1648, Westphalia laid the groundwork for the international aspect of sovereignty, with national development continuing in diverse ways.

🌍 The Spread of the Modern State System

The final paragraph outlines the global spread of the modern state system. It notes that this form of political organization, which emerged in 17th century Europe, expanded through colonialism and became the dominant global structure by the 1960s, as independence movements gained momentum. The rise of the modern state is seen as a result of specific historical developments in medieval Europe. The speaker wraps up by reminding the audience to explore other state formations in the video series, concluding the discussion on the emergence of the modern state.

Keywords

💡Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia refers to a series of treaties signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years War. It is crucial to understanding the video as it marked the beginning of the modern state system in Europe by establishing principles like state sovereignty and legal equality of states. The video emphasizes how this peace shaped international relations by allowing rulers to control domestic matters, including religion, without external interference.

💡Thirty Years War

The Thirty Years War was a destructive conflict in Europe between 1618 and 1648, primarily involving Protestant and Catholic states. This war is central to the video's theme as it exemplifies the clash between religious and secular powers, which led to widespread devastation and significant political changes. The war's conclusion through the Peace of Westphalia had profound implications for state sovereignty and modern international relations.

💡Sovereignty

Sovereignty refers to the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. The video stresses this concept as a fundamental outcome of the Peace of Westphalia, which granted states full control over their internal affairs, including religion. This principle remains relevant today, as reflected in the United Nations' non-intervention policy, and it laid the foundation for the modern state system.

💡Feudal System

The feudal system was a decentralized political and economic structure in medieval Europe where nobles held land from the king in exchange for military service. In the video, the feudal system is described as fragmented and inefficient, leading to its decline during the Thirty Years War. The shift from feudal rule to centralized, bureaucratic governance marks a key moment in the emergence of the modern state.

💡State Formation

State formation refers to the process by which centralized political institutions and governance structures develop. In the video, this is explained in the context of the Thirty Years War, where the need for organized military and tax collection systems led to the establishment of modern states. Historian Charles Tilly's idea that 'war made the state and the state made war' underscores the role of conflict in shaping state authority.

💡Charles Tilly

Charles Tilly was a historian known for his work on the relationship between war and state formation. In the video, Tilly's theory that war played a central role in the development of European states is discussed, highlighting how rulers needed revenue and military forces to both defend and maintain their power. Tilly likened state formation to organized crime, where citizens paid taxes for protection from both internal and external threats.

💡Sovereign Rule

Sovereign rule refers to the authority exercised by rulers, particularly in terms of their control over their state. In the video, it is used to explain how the Peace of Westphalia established the legal foundation for rulers to determine their state's religion and other internal matters. This concept is contrasted with earlier feudal systems, where political power was fragmented and shared among multiple lords.

💡Religious and Secular Authority

The tension between religious and secular authority is a major theme in the video, illustrated by the conflict during the Thirty Years War. The video explains how Ferdinand II's attempt to impose Roman Catholicism as the official religion of the Holy Roman Empire triggered the war, and how the Peace of Westphalia ultimately reinforced the separation of religious authority from state governance by granting rulers the right to determine their state's religion.

💡Standing Armies

Standing armies are professional, permanent military forces maintained by a state. The video discusses the importance of standing armies in the context of state formation, as rulers needed reliable military forces to maintain control and protect their territories. The development of these armies during the Thirty Years War marked a shift from feudal mercenaries to professional soldiers, reinforcing the power of centralized states.

💡Non-intervention

Non-intervention is the principle that states should not interfere in the internal affairs of other states. This idea, which originated from the Peace of Westphalia, is highlighted in the video as a key element of modern international relations. The principle is still reflected in institutions like the United Nations, though it has been challenged in recent years by debates over human rights and humanitarian interventions.

Highlights

The video focuses on the Peace of Westphalia and the rise of the modern European state.

The Thirty Years War began in 1618 due to tensions between Protestant northern territories and the Catholic Holy Roman Empire.

The war expanded rapidly, involving multiple European powers, and had devastating impacts, including widespread famine and massive loss of life.

The Thirty Years War highlighted the pressure on states to maintain standing militaries, influencing state formation.

Historian Charles Tilley argues that war was the primary driver of state formation in Europe, coining the phrase 'war made the state and the state made war.'

The need for revenue to support armies led to the development of more complex bureaucracies and a shift from feudal systems to modern states.

Tilly compares state formation to organized crime, where states act as protection rackets, compelling subjects to pay taxes for protection.

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) concluded the Thirty Years War and established the framework for modern international relations.

The Peace of Westphalia introduced the principles of state sovereignty and legal equality among states, foundational to modern international law.

The treaty established that rulers had the authority to determine their state's religion, reinforcing state sovereignty over internal affairs.

The Peace of Westphalia's principles are echoed in the UN Charter, particularly the concept of non-intervention in domestic matters.

The emergence of the modern state replaced fragmented medieval authority with centralized state control.

Medieval private mercenary armies were replaced by standing professional armies under state control.

The Peace of Westphalia marked the beginning of national sovereignty, moving away from personal rule to authority rooted in the people.

The modern state emerged in 17th-century Europe and expanded globally, becoming the primary form of political organization by the 1960s.

Transcripts

Hey everyone. Noah Zerbe here. This is one of a series of short videos where we

look at the state in international relations.

This video focuses in particular on the Peace of Westphalia and the rise of the

modern European state. Now, in an earlier video on feudal

European states, we concluded by considering a number of

limits on state formation imposed by that model.

All of those limits that we explored in the previous video--and in particular

tensions between religious and secular authority--reached their peak

in 1618 culminating in the outbreak of the Thirty Years War.

The war started when Ferdinand II, who had come to power

over the Holy Roman Empire, decided that Roman Catholicism would be the official

religion of the empire. The northern territories, which were

predominantly Protestant and had been granted religious freedom since the

Peace of Ausburg in 1555, rebelled. The decision broke with the traditional

separation of religious and secular authority,

and Ferdinand II was attempting essentially to claim both.

What started as a regional conflict between Protestants and Catholics

in the Holy Roman Empire quickly expanded, drawing in combatants from

across the Holy Roman Empire and as far away as England, France, Spain

and Holland to the west, Russia and the Ottoman Empire to the

east, and Sweden to the north. The conflict had a devastating impact.

Across Europe, it destroyed agriculture, bankrupted

kingdoms, and provoked famine. Affected states often saw between a

quarter and half their populations die, either in conflict or more often as a

result of disease and famine. In all an estimated 8 to 12 million

people died as a result of the Thirty Years War,

making it one of the deadliest conflicts in European history until World War I.

Now the Thirty Years War drew into sharp relief the pressure on states to

maintain standing militaries, and it was this

final limit that may have played the ultimate role in the decline of the

feudal system and the rise of the modern state in Europe. Exacerbated by

the ongoing Thirty Years War, kings and nobility were increasingly

desperate to raise revenue to finance their wars.

According to historian Charles Tilley, whose most famous work is entitled

"War Making and State Making as Organized Crime,"

war was the primary driver of the state formation in Europe.

As he puts it, "war made the state and the state made war."

Armies gave nobility power over territory they already controlled. In order to finance these armies,

nobles required a steady supply of revenue, especially in the form of taxes paid in cash.

To ensure the collection and management

of tax revenue, states had to develop ever more complex bureaucracies,

which led them back to having stronger and stronger standing armies.

In a sense, Tilly sees the formation of the modern state essentially as a

protection racket similar to those employed by organized crime.

peasants and townspeople were forced to pay money to the king

in order that the king could maintain a military both to protect them from

external threats but also to compel the subjects to

continue to pay their taxes. Thus the Thirty Years War saw a dramatic

increase in the size and professionalism of military forces involved.

Importantly, the war itself was brought to a close through a series of treaties

collectively referred to as the Peace of Westphalia of 1648.

Bbut the implications of the Peace were much broader than the conclusion of the

war itself. And if you remember no other date in

this class, you'll likely remember 1648. The Peace of Westphalia established the

broad framework for the new European-- and later international--order.

In the Peace, the parties to the treaty, which included most of the major

political actors of the day, recognized one another's equal legal

standing and agreed that each was an independent political actor.

These two principles--the legal equality of states and the independence from

external control--became the basis of the principle of

sovereignty central to international relations today.

This was most clearly articulated through the principle under the Peace of

Westphalia that the sovereign or ruler of the state

had authority to determine the country's religion. But it extended to all aspects of

internal affairs of the state. That principle is even found today in

the Charter of the United Nations, which states that "nothing should

authorize intervention in matters which are essentially within

the domestic jurisdiction of any state." This is usually referred to

as the principle of non-intervention. In recent years the principle of

non-intervention has become more problematic,

and indeed has come into direct conflict in the debates over the protection

of human rights and the responsibility to protect, which we'll discuss in more

detail when we come back to the United Nations later in the course.

For now, let's just highlight the distinctive features of the modern state

and how those features differ from those of the medieval European state.

In terms of the nature of rule, we see the personal rule of kings and other

nobles replaced by professional bureaucratic rule.

We also see the fragmented political authority of the medieval system

replaced by the centralized authority of the modern state.

We see the private mercenary armies belonging to multiple lords replaced by

a single standing professional army owned by the state.

Aand we see the personal sovereignty of the king replaced by the concept of

national sovereignty rooted, at least theoretically,

in the power of the people. This is not to say that the state emerged fully

formed from the Peace of Westphalia. Rather, the peace or treaty established,

in a very broad stroke, the international character of the state.

Defined largely in terms of sovereignty, the domestic national character of the

state would continue to develop, often in divergent and contradictory ways.

Most of that development is the focus of

another field of political science known as comparative politics, so we'll leave

that for now. So what should we take away from today?

First that the modern state is the outcome of a very specific historical

development in medieval Europe and emerges in the 17th

century. From there it expands, as Ringmar observes,

through European colonialism. And by the 1960s, as independence

movements gain steam around the world, it becomes the primary form of political

organization globally. Well that concludes our consideration of

the emergence of the modern state. Be sure to watch the other videos on

alternative state formations in this series.

Thanks for watching everyone. Bye.