The states system of Europe, 1640-1990
Subtitle: peacemaking and the conditions of international stability
By: Andreas Osiander.
Publisher: Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press
Published: 1994
Place of publication: Oxford; Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 358
Subjects: Peace treaties.; Europe -- Politics and government.
Description: This book provides a novel analysis of the evolution of the states system of Europe since the mid-seventeenth century. Andreas Osiander looks at the four major European peace congresses: Munster and Osnabruck (1644-8), Utrecht (1712-15), Vienna (1814-15), and Paris (1919-20) and shows how a prevailing consensus on certain structural concepts - such as the balance of power or national self-determination - has influenced the evolution of the system and determined its stability or lack of stability.

He argues that the structure of the international system is neither a given quantity nor determined primarily by conflict between international actors, but essentially the result of a general agreement expressed in c̀onsensus principles'; these influence the identity of the international actors, their relative status, and the distribution of populations and territories between them.

His approach provides a more plausible analysis of international relations and the causes of conflict than traditional theories, and he concludes his study with a review of the period since 1920 in the light of his findings.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [337]-343) and index.