The international system in the 17th and 18th centuries followed upon gains made in previous centuries. These were the increasing importance of state sovereignty and authority, the emergence of mechanisms such as the permanent
diplomatic representation, an increasing reference to international law, and the idea of striking a ‘balance of power’. In these centuries, the modern state system of today was being consolidated, and states tended not only to engage in conflicts but also to cooperate through increasing trade or by allying against common threats.