To what extent did diplomacy effect the rise of the modern state from 1648-1815?

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DIPLOMACY EFFECT THE RISE OF THE MODERN STATE                                

To what extent did diplomacy effect the rise of the modern state from 1648-1815?

Kevin L. Boyd

Norwich University


Abstract

Modern diplomacy had its beginnings with the Westphalia Treaties of 1648, and from thence forth began to mold and shape the nations of that day and continues up until the present.  Looking at how diplomacy affected the rise of empires and the modern state between Westphalia and the Congress of Vienna subsequent to the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte on the isle of Saint Helena in July of 1815, we can see how diplomatic development affected the world as we know it today.  This paper will also look at the different perspectives that author’s Nation and Black have in regards to how and why modern states and their diplomacy developed.  And it will also examine the growth of diplomacy and foreign relations as an institution which is now deeply entrenched in the operations of all modern states.

        Keywords: Westphalia, Congress of Vienna, diplomacy, foreign relations


To what extent did diplomacy effect the rise of the modern state from 1648-1815?

Prior to the Westphalia Treaties of 1648 interactions between nations was handled strictly by the kings, queens, emperors and other rulers who would simply send an envoy with a personal message.  After the devastating Thirty Years War nations were pressed for peace and out of this destruction came the Westphalia Treaties that not only concluded the war but ushered in a new period of diplomacy.  This period of diplomacy is what is now known as the “classic” period of international diplomacy, and lasted until the Congress of Vienna as a result of the defeat and exile of Napoleon Bonaparte.  Diplomacy grew from infancy into a key support for the modern state as we know it today.  Both Nathan and Black argue for the importance of diplomacy and how it affected the rise of the modern state, albeit from very different perspectives which I will contrast in this paper.  Even as early as 1815 diplomacy had become deeply entrenched in the affairs of all modern states, as well the lesser developed nations or civilizations, and we began to see the development of multi-national private corporations and non-governmental organizations.

The Congress of Westphalia was the first time in history that large numbers of ‘diplomatic’ envoys, representatives, plenipotentiaries, and clerics assembled for the purpose of concluding the devastation of war.  Because this was the first wide-spread use of plenipotentiaries that had full authority to represent the head of state and make decisions based upon guidance from the ruler as opposed to being simply a messenger that had to continually return to get the answer, Westphalia is seen as the birthplace of modern diplomacy.

While many practices of modern diplomacy existed prior to the Westphalia Treaties, such as the northern Italian city-states establishment of permanent embassies with other city-states and long standing expectations of proper treatment of diplomatic envoys that led to the concept of diplomatic immunity, it was Westphalia that established the actual profession of diplomat.  “The Westphalia settlement marked the start of a novel premise in international affairs...The final settlement of armed disputes, after Westphalia, was no longer left to the province of military contractors and theologians. Instead, the termination of war fell within the purview of a new and identifiable coterie: a class of professional diplomats and warriors sworn to the service of a state.” (Nathan, 2002, p. 17)  Prior to Westphalia these was no recognizable diplomatic profession, however afterward diplomacy was practiced by this new-found profession to such a degree that “the diplomatic craft was practiced by a kind of well-born guild, with members who were adept at melding reason, precedent, and law with quiet allusion to the implication of armed compunction.” (Nathan, 2002, p. 17)

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Westphalia affected Western European nations and how they conducted diplomacy, and to some degree affected Eastern European nations in that they had constant dealings with their fellow Europeans.  It was Westphalia that defined classic diplomacy during the period of  1648-1815, and so changed the way that nations dealt with each other, viewed each other, and even themselves.  Rather than think of themselves as purely Catholic or Protestant, people began to think of themselves in a nationalistic way as well, such as French, Spanish, or British and as such rather than follow a far off edict from a Pope or King ...

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