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It was the original forever war, which went on interminably, fuelled by religious fanaticism, personal ambition, fear of hegemony, and communal suspicion. It dragged in all the neighbouring powers. It was punctuated by repeated failed ceasefires. It inflicted suffering beyond belief and generated waves of refugees. No, this is not Syria today, but the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48), which turned Germany and much of central Europe into a disaster zone.
The Thirty Years’ War is often cited as a parallel in discussions of the Middle East. The Peace of Westphalia, which ended the conflict in 1648, has featured strongly in such discussions, usually with the observation that recent events in some parts of the region have seen the collapse of ideas of state sovereignty--deas that supposedly originated with the 1648 settlement.
Axworthy, Milton and Simms argue that the Westphalian treaties, far from enshrining state sovereignty, in fact reconfigured and strengthened a structure for legal resolution of disputes, and provided for intervention by outside guarantor powers to uphold the peace settlement. This book argues that the history of Westphalia may hold the key to resolving the new long wars in the Middle East today.
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9781787380233
Number of pages: 176
Dimensions: 216 x 138 mm
'At the heart of the book is a profound sense of urgency about ending the bloodshed in Syria.’ - Foreign Affairs
'This book, the product of extensive studies and discussions among western and regional scholars and policymakers, is an important first attempt to promote [an effective peace effort].'
'A lucid, critical discussion of how the historical example of the Peace of Westphalia might encourage more constructive solutions to current conflicts in the Middle East.' - Peter Wilson
'This refreshing book brings out much-needed lessons for a Middle East in need of a new Westphalia.' - Staffan de Mistura
'Milton, Axworthy and Simms provide policy-relevant answers to the questions that students of the Middle East have been asking since the Arab Spring. This book is comparative politics at its best.' - Michael Kerr
'There has never been a more important time to think creatively about solutions to the problems gripping the Middle East. This study highlights the importance of history as a means of informing policy whilst recognising the value and limitations of a comparative approach.' - Ali Ansari
'An insightful book. Milton et al transform reified concepts into a set of tools with which to take on the world's most vexing conflicts.' - Borzou Daragahi
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