When History Begins

Abstract

It is fashionable to claim 'the end of history'. As classical war seems to be over,many scholars – particularly Alexandre Kojève – argue that we currently face 'the end ofinternational relations'. This article considers the opposite, that is to say how we are nowat the real beginning of international relations, and even of 'intersocial relations', wherebysocial actors and individuals are more and more involved. Such an analysis is also a way ofreinterpreting the dawn of IR, with its internal debates and tensions as well as their presenttransformations. The article questions the traditional typology of IR theories, and points outcorrelations between theoretical challenges and changes or evolutions of history. It is also away for shedding light on what could be considered, in such a chaos, the French approach ofInternational Relations. Is it only a 'French touch' or the basis of a new paradigm?