Impact Trust • Working glossary

Westphalian state model

The system of sovereign nation-states as the basis for global governance, originating from the 1648 Peace of Westphalia - each state controls its own territory.

Details

Our Take
Pure IR jargon; most people have never heard the term. The idea ('the current nation-state system') is simple; the label is academic shorthand. Included because the Movement's own architecture (auxiliary role, national sovereignty, state consent) is Westphalian -- which means it faces structural challenges when crises cross borders, when states fail, or when governance problems are planetary.
Examples of Use
International relations, governance
Synonyms/Variants
Nation-state system; Sovereign state model, State-based global order
Typical everyday wording
The current system where each country controls its own territor