Historical Sociology of International Relations

Insight from historical sociology promotes a re-thinking of international relations theory in this 2001 collection of essays. The volume's editors draw together many strands of thought to set out in detail an approach and research agenda that revolve around what the editors call 'world sociology'.

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 2001 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'.