The making of the Westphalian state-system : social property relations, geopolitics and the myth of 1648
The dissertation presents a theoretically controlled and historically informed inquiry into the formation and dynamics of the European system of states between the 8th and the 18th Centuries. It combines two methods of research and exposition. First, it pursues a comparative-chronological approach by elaborating and contrasting historically diverse logics of territorial and international order - exemplified with reference to the medieval, the early modern, and, partially, the modern geopolitical systems. Second, it adopts a developmental perspective by supplementing the systematic-comparative but static account of geopolitical orders with a more narrative, yet theoretically hedged, exposition of their incommensurable conflictual dynamics and expansionist drives. This processual perspective allows us to address the crucial question of the causes behind the passage from one geopolitical order to another. Contrary to conventional assumptions in the theory of international relations, the thesis is that the diversity of geopolitical systems and the reasons behind their transformations are bound up with different and changing social property relations in the domestic sphere. These social property relations govern
Teschke, Benno Gerhard
History
The making of the Westphalian state-system : social property relations, geopolitics and the myth of 1648. The dissertation presents a theoretically controlled and historically informed inquiry into the formation and dynamics of the European system of states between the 8th and the 18th Centuries. It combines two methods of research and exposition. First, it pursues a comparative-chronological approach by elaborating and contrasting historically diverse logics of territorial and international order - exemplified with reference to the medieval, the early modern, and, partially, the modern geopolitical systems. Second, it adopts a developmental perspective by supplementing the systematic-comparative but static account of geopolitical orders with a more narrative, yet theoretically hedged, exposition of their incommensurable conflictual dynamics and expansionist drives. This processual perspective allows us to address the crucial question of the causes behind the passage from one geopolitical order to another. Contrary to conventional assumptions in the theory of international relations, the thesis is that the diversity of geopolitical systems and the reasons behind their transformations are bound up with different and changing social property relations in the domestic sphere. These social property relations govern
make state system social property_relation geopolitics myth present theoretically control historically inform inquiry formation dynamic european system state combine_two method exposition first pursue comparative chronological elaborate contrast historically diverse logic territorial international order exemplify reference medieval_early modern partially modern geopolitical system second adopts developmental perspective supplement systematic comparative static account geopolitical order narrative yet theoretically exposition incommensurable conflictual dynamic expansionist drive processual perspective allow address crucial question cause behind passage geopolitical order another contrary conventional assumption theory international_relation diversity geopolitical system reason_behind transformation bound different change social property_relation domestic_sphere social property_relation govern