Originally Published in Madras Courier
Editorial Note
The toxic mix of religion and politics to create a common enemy is a matter of great concern; it could destabilise global political order.
The Peace Of Westphalia, a series of treaties signed in 1648, was a monumental event in ascertaining the territorial sovereignty of two Westphalian states of Osnabruck and Munster from the Holy Roman Empire. It ended the Thirty Years War, a catastrophic period in medieval European history that laid down the first principles of international relations. The historic treaties also heralded a commendable attempt to decouple religion from politics by diminishing the intrusive role of the Catholic Church in body politic.