The Diplomacy of Henry Kissinger
Statesman Henry Kissinger stated that building peace among nations through tenets in the Peace of Westphalia (Westphalia) requires understanding conflict and pragmatism, or practicality. However, adhering to only pragmatism and understanding conflict has become challenging in the modern world.
In his book World Order, Kissinger referred to the Peace of Westphalia as the beginning of international relations. This agreement came after the end of the Thirty Years' War and one of Europe's most destructive eras of conflict. The Peace of Westphalia stipulates that no one nation should overpower others.
Kissinger stated that adhering to this agreement required a practical approach to international relations with a deep understanding of history and how conflicts arise. World Wars I and II exemplify how understanding the environment that fueled aggression provides insight into how these conflicts began, regardless of the leader.
However, other experts state that the complexity of 21st-century global politics makes it difficult to understand conflict and pragmatism. For example, China’s military superiority in Asia and the Asia Pacific has allowed it to become a giant, engaging in land and water disputes with Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines. China holds power over these nations, and its influence runs counter to the interests of the United States, another global power.
Alternatively, Russia serves as an example of the failure of Westphalian principles. Since the breakup of the USSR, the country has slipped in prominence on the world stage. Moreover, Russia has tried to re-establish itself by aggression, not diplomacy.
Westphalian principles might not apply to a world where cyber espionage, cyber warfare, and terrorism have complicated diplomacy. The global war on terror involving the US, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Afghanistan requires more than pragmatism and understanding of conflict. The weapons (the Internet, AI, hacking) have become more advanced, and the allegiances among nations have loosened.