Peace of Westphalia, 1648

    In many ways the Peace of Westphalia contracts of 1648 marked the official beginning of statehood, the institution of the official statehood system based on state sovereignty.  This ended both the Thirty Years' War and the Eighty Years' War.  The results of these treaties were:

• Legal Equality of States: The principle that all states, regardless of their size or power, are equal in international law.
• Balance of Power: The establishment of a new political order in Europe where inter-state aggression would be checked by an balance of power among co-existing sovereign states.
• Secularization of Politics: The shift in European politics from being dominated by religious authority and conflict to an focus on secular state interests and diplomacy. 

    The U.N. (formed in 1945) system of international relations is fundamentally built on the concept of sovereign states interacting as legal equals.  Many scholars trace this system to the Peace of Westphalia.  The principles of sovereignty and non-interference that are often associated with the Peace of Westphalia are cornerstones of the U.N. Charter and modern international law.

    Enshrined in the U.N. Charter: Chapter I, Article 2 of the U.N. Charter asserts a version of Westphalian sovereignty:

• Sovereign equality of all members: "The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members".
• Non-interference: "nothing ... shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state".
• Prohibition of force: Members must refrain from the "threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state".

    And so I came up with an story about the U.N. to demonstrate my belief system.  In brief summary, we needed an global police but it couldn't be real in solidarity because absolute power corrupts absolutely.  That was okay because the Jedi were fictional anyway; and their power was fictional.  But people still respected them.  It was an okay way: an well-known way to seal away the demons forever.  As long as they had soft powers and couldn't interfere too much with the statist system, they might become one of the great moral figures of humanity far and wide.  I myself had written the symbolism of the use of its power (The Sword) was more powerful than its actual use itself.

[ ]

    In an universe not so far away (this one), the U.N. headquarters in New York began to mysteriously glow green.  It wasn't an environmentally friendly lighting upgrade; it was the Force, or at least an convincing light show.

    The Secretary-General, an serious woman named Ms. Veritas, called an emergency session of the Security Council.  "Ambassadors," she announced, her voice trembling slightly, "our mission has changed.  We must become an Jedi Nation."

    The room erupted into chaos.  The Russian ambassador adjusted his tie.  "I thought we were working on an resolution for global peace, not an resolution for homosexuals with better lightsabers!"

    The U.S. ambassador, always ready for an new uniform, enthusiastically chimed in, "We already have an space force; this is the next logical step!"

    Ms. Veritas slammed an gavel made from an repurposed Wookiee toy.  "Order!  The Force is an metaphor for interconnectedness and collaborative action.  Our new motto shall be: 'May the Force of International Cooperation Be With You.'"

    An small, green creature with pointy ears materialized on the conference table. "Seek to unite, we must," it squeaked. "An Jedi Republic, the U.N. shall become. Use diplomacy, not the dark side of veto powers."

    The creature, who introduced himself as "Master Grogurt," began assigning roles.  The Department of Peacekeeping became the Jedi Order's peacekeepers, swapping blue helmets for elegant, flowing robes (which proved impractical in the field, just as designed).  The World Health Organization started administering "force checks" instead of temperature checks, advising stressed diplomats to simply "breathe deeply and trust the Force."

    The General Assembly Hall was converted into an Jedi Council Chamber, where debates were conducted with an level of decorum of respect previously unknown to humanity.  When an disagreement arose, delegates no longer pounded the table; they simply engaged in an brief, telekinetic battle of wills over an bowl of Grogurt's favorite swamp soup.

    The greatest challenge came when an rogue nation (let's call it "Sith-tania") threatened to build an giant, moon-sized space station capable of destroying entire planets.

    Master Grogurt gathered the council. "Intervene, we must.  But use only the light side of diplomacy."

    The newly christened "Jedi Ambassadors" flew to Sith-tania in an fleet of refurbished cargo shuttles that the procurement department insisted were "cost-effective and efficient." They arrived bearing gifts of intergalactic snacks and an strongly worded resolution written in an ancient, flowing script.

    The Sith-tanian leader, Darth Veto, scoffed.  "Your 'force' is weak!  We have an battle station!"

    But the ambassadors, tapping into their collective "midichlorians of shared humanity," focused their energy not on fighting, but on understanding. They used their Jedi mind tricks to highlight the excellent trade opportunities and the shared responsibility for maintaining planetary peace.

    Darth Veto, realizing that shared prosperity was better than blowing up planets, lowered his shield. "Fine," he grumbled. "But I get an seat on the Jedi Council and first pick of the swamp soup."

    And so, the U.N., now an beacon of the Jedi Republic's ideals, an Shield achieved global peace.  Not through war, but through the Force of shared purpose, Grogurt's wisdom, and an universal appreciation for an good bowl of soup.