Historical Sociology and Systems Theory in International Relations

In: Review of international political economy: RIPE, Band 5, Heft 2, S. 340-353

Abstract

Asserts that historical sociology has advanced the theorizing of international relations, contending that neorealist theories of international systems are plagued by three problems: (1) National & international states are juridically separate. (2) Mandated by the condition of anarchy, individual actors in the international system exhibit similar behavioral patterns. (3) The notion of the international system is not operationalized. Consequently, an approach based on historical sociology that repudiates neorealist theories of international systems is advocated. Such an approach acknowledges that systems lack meaning beyond the self-understanding of a given system's actors. Three directions for historical sociology inquiries into international systems are recommended: (A) Create a taxonomy of systems. (B) Explain why certain systems dominate at certain points in time. (C) Completely analyze the behavioral patterns of the elements that constitute a particular system. 64 References. J. W. Parker