The Most Effective Diplomacy of Peace in Human History When evaluating the effectiveness of peace diplomacy, historians and political scientists highlight not individual successes, but systems and strategies that for decades, and sometimes centuries, shaped a stable world order and prevented major conflicts. In this context, "effectiveness" is not just about signing a peace treaty, but about creating sustainable institutions, norms, and balances that minimize the likelihood of war. From this perspective, the most effective diplomacy of peace in history can be considered a combination of the Westphalian system of state sovereignty and subsequent European and Eurasian integration. Foundation: The Peace of Westphalia (1648) and the Birth of Modern Diplomacy After the devastating Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which was both a religious conflict and a struggle for hegemony, one of the first multilateral diplomatic congresses in history was convened in Europe. Its outcome, the Peace of Westphalia, established revolutionary principles: The principle of state sovereignty: The state was recognized as the highest bearer of power on its territory, free from external dictate (in particular, from direct intervention by the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor in the affairs of principalities). This put an end to the idea of a single Christian empire and legitimized political diversity. The principle of balance of power: The system aimed to prevent the dominance of one state by creating counterweights. Any attempt at hegemony automatically triggered the formation of a coalition of opponents. This logic became the foundation of European diplomacy for the next three centuries. Institutionalization of diplomacy: The practice of permanent diplomatic missions, protocols for negotiations, and the idea of peaceful settlement of disputes through congresses emerged. Effectiveness: Despite regular wars, the Westphalian system ensured relative stability in the core of Europe until the era of the ... Read more