The English School Flashcards
classical approach
that approach to theorizing that derives from philosophy, history and law and that is characterized by explicit reliance upon the exercise of judgement.
Hedely Bull’s guide on how to study international relations
- subject of should be state and non-state actors in the international system
- understand the historical context, it helps us understand present day, must look beyond a state’s material capabilities.
- researchers should strive to remain neutral/unbiased in IR.
- values are at the heart of IR, common values are what create international societies
main difference between constructivist and English school
constructivist is state-centric, English school is not.
two inferences to be drawn between language and action
the political actors see there world can be understood by the language they use to describe it
2:
language will be constrained to the degree in which it cannot be legitimized
the range of possible forms of actions is constrained by the morality of the international society
how does the English school use language
looking at the constrains of language used between states helps us understand the rules and norms that constrain the situation and this is helpful for interpretive methodology
international society
when a group of states are bound together by a set of common rules, interests and share common institutions.
what are fundamental elements to international society
- mutual recognition of statehood and sovereignty (this determines who can be identified as part of the society)
- recognize their collective agency through their diplomatic representatives
- economic interdependence of states.
recognition
recognizing the sovereignty and statehood of another and recognition is socially constructed
types of international societies
pluralist- create laws and rules that help them function within their society
solidarity- society imposes its rules and institutions on other societies that are outside of them
complex governance- the role of new global regulators to impose rules that were previously imposed by other states.
order
realists- order is the absence of war
English school- order is what culturally diverse states can agree upon and the international system and regimes is built on that.
what role does systems play in school’s theory of world politics?
tells us how far the international society extends
can identify mechanisms that shape international societies
helps identify the power states in that society
international system
describes the patterns of interaction between all state actors in the world in which the interactions are not rule-governed. An international system is a prerequisite for international society, and the system tells us about the history of the international society.
when does society collapse back into a system?
If the major actors in the international system cease to comply with the rules and norms of society
what makes actions of states systematic
they fall outside the institutional arrangements of the state that promote justice and order, immovable characteristics of the state i.e geographical location on the map.
world society
the shared interests that link all parts of the human community, what connects as a human beings. Therefore, human rights are at the center of this concept.
