Historical Sociology of International Relations

by Edited by Stephen Hobden , John M. Hobson

• ISBN13: 9780521808705
• ISBN10: 0521808707
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-01-21
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

International relations theorists are increasingly turning to historical sociology as a means both of broadening and refining their discipline, and critiquing mainstream thinking. Nevertheless, there is still only a rudimentary understanding of what historical sociology is and what it can offer the subject. This book acts as a manifesto for historical sociology, considering a range of issues, including accounts of the major variants of historical sociology; how they can be applied to international relations; why international relations theorists should engage with these approaches; and how historical sociological insight can enhance and reconfigure the study of international relations. In addition to describing the seven major approaches - neo-Weberianism, constructivisim, critical historical materialism, critical theory, postmodernism, structural realism and World Systems theory - the volume's introductory and concluding chapters set out in detail an approach and research agenda that revolve around what the editors call 'world sociology'.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	vii
Preface and acknowledgements	ix
Part I Introduction: Bringing historical sociology back into international relations
What's at stake in `bringing historical sociology back into international relations'? Transcending `chronofetishism' and `tempocentrism' in international relations	3	(39)
John M. Hobson
Historical sociology: back to the future of international relations?	42	(21)
Stephen Hobden
Part II Historical sociologies of international relations
The two waves of Weberian historical sociology in international relations	63	(19)
John M. Hobson
Globality and historical sociology: state, revolution and war revisited	82	(17)
Martin Shaw
Historical sociology and constructivism: an estranged past, a federated future?	99	(21)
Michael Barnett
The idea of history and history with ideas	120	(21)
Christian Reus-Smit
World system analysis, historical sociology and international relations: the difference a hyphen makes	141	(21)
Barry K. Gills
Towards a critical historical sociology of transnational harm	162	(19)
Andrew Linklater
Critical historical materialism and international law: imagining international law as praxis	181	(19)
A. Claire Cutler
International systems in world history: remaking the study of international relations	200	(23)
Barry Buzan
Richard Little
Part III Conclusion: The future of historical sociology in international relations
Historical sociology and international relations theory	223	(21)
Steve Smith
For an international sociology	244	(21)
Fred Halliday
On the road towards an historicised world sociology	265	(21)
John M. Hobson
Stephen Hobden
References	286	(23)
Index	309