THE HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL EVOLUTION OF COLLECTIVE SECURITY (INCLUDING IN THE BALTIC SEA REGION) FROM THE 1648 WESTPHALIA PEACE TO WOODROW WILSON’S1920 LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Abstract

Modern political thinkers have ushered in the theoretical concepts of modern alliances and collective security/defense. Before these political theories were turned into modern organizations, many radical changes had to take place in how international relations were perceived in Europe and the world. These dynamic changes started at the end of the Thirty Years War, with the signing of the Westphalia treaties in 1648, and came to fruition with the forming of the League of Nations in 1920. This article explores this 272 year historical process including its impact on the population of the Baltic Sea countries.

Keywords

• Thirty Years War
• Holy Roman Empire
• Cardinal de Richelieu
• collective
• Security
• Westphalia
• Baltic Sea Region
• Central Europe
• Congress
• Concert of Europe
• charter
• covenant
• & League of Nations