The Thirty Years War vs. Modern Wars: A Shift in Motive

Abstract

This research paper dissects the Thirty Years War, 9/11, and the Iraq War to find the answer to the ultimate question: Is religion still the defining feature of conflict in the early 21st century given the historical importance of the Thirty Years War as a reference point regarding the Westphalian system and sovereignty for the West? The analysis of this focus on juxtaposing the three events with each other and finding the major differences between what an actual religious war such as the Thirty Years War look like compared to modern events such as 9/11 and the Iraq War which have hints of religion embedded into them.