The English School Flashcards
Does the English school provide a holistic approach to the subject?
The English School Provides a holistic approach to the subject
Attempting to see the world as a whole
What is English school theory build around, as defined by Hedley Bull?
English school theory built around establishing distinctions between 3 key concepts
- International system
- International society
- World society
Is the English school a middle ground?
Offers a middle ground between the opposing theories of realism + liberalism
When is an international system formed? (2)
- When 2+ states have sufficient contact between them
- And have sufficient impact on one another’s decisions to cause them to behave as parts of a whole
When does an international society exist? (2)
- Exists when a group of like-minded states conceive themselves to be bound by a common set of rules in their relations with one another
- And share in the working of common institutions
What is the impact of world society? (2)
- Transcends the state system
- Takes individuals, non-state actors + ultimately the global population as the focus of global societal identities + arrangements
What are primary institutions? (3)
- Long-term practices among states
- Such as diplomacy, law and war
- Rather than international structures that are established to facilitate state interaction
What are secondary institutions? (2)
- International organisations
- Use the term secondary institutions to show that the effectiveness of international organisations depends on the function of international society’ s primary institutions
Why is the distinction between an international system and an international society helpful?
Helps us distinguish the pattern and character of relations among + between certain states + groups of states
How does the interaction among the EU’s member states differ from the EU’s interaction with Turkey, a non-member?
- Interaction among EU’s member states reflects the existence of an international society
- While interaction of the EU itself with Turkey describes interaction within a broader international system
Why did the distinction between an international system + an international society invite considerable criticism?
What has been the result?
- Because even in an international system, one could observe the existence of some rules + the operation of some institutions
- Resulted in the acceptance that an international system constitutes a weak form of international society
Throughout the bulk of history, there was not any single international system or society. When did an international society first appear?
- During 17th + 18th century, international society was regarded as a privileged association of European + ‘civilised’ states
- With development of institutions e.g. international law, diplomacy + balance of power
Why did the emergence of an international society in the 17th + 18th centuries perpetuate a cultural duality between ‘civilised’ and ‘non-civilised’ peoples and create a hierarchy of states? (3)
- Non-European states could only join international society if they met standards of civilisation
- Perpetuated cultural duality between ‘civilised’ and ‘non-civilised’ peoples
- Led to creation of hierarchical relations between 2 new categories of states: the ‘civilisers’ and the ‘civilisees’
Following the end of WW1, what international society emerged?
- Following the end of WW1
- Watermarked by establishment of the League of Nations in 1920
What was the impact of WW2 on the League of Nations?
- Interrupted the functioning of the League
- Consequently led to the destruction of that particular international society
What did the establishment of the UN in 1945 constitute?
The expression of yet another new international society
Why and when was the ‘standard of civilisation’ abolished? (4)
- Insulting to non-European civilisations
- Perpetuated a hierarchical relationship among states
- Thus they campaigned against the standard of civilisation
- Which was eventually abolished when the decolonisation process commenced
What is pluralism?
Pluralism refers to international societies with a relatively low degree of shared norms, rules and institutions
What is solidarity?
Refers to types of international society with a relatively high degree of shared norms, rules + institutions
What is the pluralist / solidarist debate about?
Basically about how international society relates to world society and to people
What is natural law?
- Certain rights or values are inherent by virtue of human nature
- A body of changing moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct
What is positive law?
Refers to human-made laws of a given community, society and state
