CHINA'S GLOBAL CIVILISATION INITIATIVE & RESTORING THE WESTPHALIAN WORLD ORDER

Another interesting piece from Glenn Diesen's substack: "China's Global Civilization Initiative & Restoring the Westphalian World Order"

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1. Historical Context of the Westphalian World Order

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) established:

A balance of power among sovereign equals.

The principle of indivisible security, ensuring opponents' security for lasting peace.

A shift away from hegemony, conquest, and domination to sovereign equality.

Origins:

Europe’s Thirty Years' War demonstrated the dangers of hegemonic ambitions.

The Westphalian system replaced overlapping authorities (e.g., the Catholic Church) with national sovereignty.

Legacy:

Evolved into international law and the UN Charter.

Initially limited to Europe but gradually extended worldwide post-colonialism.

2. Erosion of the Westphalian Order

Cold War dynamics and US hegemony:

Post-Cold War, the US promoted a revisionist order based on its dominance.

This system relied on sovereign inequality under the guise of universal liberal values.

It aimed to prevent the rise of rivals but was inherently unstable and temporary.

The rise of a multipolar world necessitates rediscovering principles of balance and indivisible security.

3. China’s Global Civilization Initiative

Advocates for a return to sovereign equality and a balance of power, rejecting universalism.

Emphasizes civilizational diversity to reassure nations that China seeks cooperation, not hegemony.

Complements China's global economic and security initiatives, supporting a stable multipolar order.

4. Key Principles and Implications

Indivisible Security:

Peace depends on guaranteeing all states' security, avoiding zero-sum rivalries.

Inspired the Concert of Europe (1815) and extended through the UN Charter.

Current Global Shift:

The world is moving from US-dominated unipolarity to multipolarity, requiring new frameworks for stability.

5. Conclusion

China’s initiative aligns with the Westphalian principle of sovereign equality, offering an alternative to intrusive hegemony.

The restoration of a multipolar balance of power can ensure global stability and cooperation amidst declining Western dominance.