The emergence of states as sovereign entities is historically attributed to which significant agreement?

The emergence of states as sovereign entities is historically attributed to the Treaty of Westphalia, signed in 1648. This treaty concluded the Thirty Years' War in Europe and is often regarded as a foundational moment in the development of the modern state system.

The significance of the Treaty of Westphalia lies in its establishment of the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It marked a shift in political organization from feudal and religious authority to a system of nation-states where each state has the right to govern itself without external interference. The treaty recognized the territorial boundaries of states and affirmed their sovereignty, leading to the concept that states should respect one another's borders and governance.

In contrast, the Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was primarily focused on ending World War I and redrawing the political map of Europe, rather than establishing the fundamental principles of state sovereignty. The Montreal Protocol is an environmental agreement aimed at regulating substances that deplete the ozone layer, and the Budapest Memorandum refers to security assurances provided to Ukraine in relation to its nuclear disarmament, neither of which pertain to the historical emergence of sovereign states.

Thus, the Treaty of Westphalia is correctly recognized as the pivotal agreement that laid the groundwork for the