Diplomacy as a Fundamental Factor for the Maintenance of National Sovereignty

Abstract

Diplomacy is a fundamental part of International Relations and, according to many theorists, its origins can be traced back to the dawn of human civilization. The Congress of Westphalia, however, is considered the first formal relationship between nation-states. The fundamental principles of the modern international system, including the sovereignty of states, the equality among nations, and non-intervention in internal affairs, were established during the event that concluded the Thirty Years' War. The Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück were the first official documents to recognize the sovereignty of nation-states. Diplomacy has thus become an essential instrument for maintaining international peace and security, as well as for promoting cooperation among states; it also plays a fundamental role in upholding the sovereignty of nation-states even today.