The Balance of Sea Power in the Early Modern Era: the Anglo-Dutch Wars

Speaker: Izidor Janžekovič, Central European University, Vienna

The balance of power is one of the foundational principles of international relations, but this idea has hitherto been conspicuously absent from naval forces. This talk takes an interdisciplinary approach to the two issues, namely how the balance-of-power practice and theory was applied at sea and how states responded to increases or decreases in the naval strength of other states. The discussion focuses on the comparison between the Dutch and English navies during the Anglo-Dutch Wars at the dawn of the Westphalian system. Izidor Janžekovič argues that the nature of rival fleets, naval warfare, and strategies surrounding sea power did not allow for decisive and lasting supremacy at sea in the early modern era.

About the speaker

 Izidor Janžekovič is an archaeologist and historian currently pursuing a PhD in comparative history at the Central European University in Vienna. He holds two master’s degrees. One is in archaeology and history from the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. At the University of Oxford, he completed the other in early modern British and European history. He has published several original articles in prestigious journals, including the History of Political Thought, Journal for Maritime Research, Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, History of European Ideas and History and Anthropology.

This King's Maritime History Seminar will be held online and in person. Please register through Eventbrite.