English school - Lecture notes Theories of IR PDF

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English School in IR What is the English School of International Relations? Ø A school of thought in IR focusing on the norms, rules and practices, that have evolved over time, which shape relations between international actors. This counters a purely materialistic view of inter-state relations Ø Norms, rules and practices serve as an informal set of guidelines for acceptable behaviour between state and non-state actors, and actors who abide by these guidelines are part of an international society, whose norms, rules and practices facilitate coordination and cooperation between members. Ø Views the international arena as a “society of states” Ø There are (theoretically) three spheres at play at the level of international politics: o International system (Hobbes/Machiavelli) o International society (Grotius) o World society (Kant) Of the three, the English School focuses on the existence of an international society, a set of actors (states) with shared norms, rules and practices (institutions) that shape actors’ behaviour. The idea of an international society offered a middle ground between realist and liberalist views. What are the origins of the English School of International Relations? Ø Developed 1959 onwards, not actually ‘English’ per se Ø Originally the English School tried to incorporate realism and liberalism to explain cooperation in the international system Ø Influenced by the fields of world history, international law, political theory, and normativism What does the English school emphasize? Ø The concept of an international society of sovereign states Ø International society does not require a supreme arbiter or leviathan to function, rather, order emerges from the repeated interactions and dynamics of international actors. Ø Certain realist ideas, such as power and the primacy of states interacting in an anarchic system (an anarchical society) Ø Certain liberalist ideas, such as recognition, equality, interests, rights, agreements, disputes, and other normative categories Ø The process of historical change, and tracing the evolution of international institutions (both formal and informal) Ø Institutions are always changing, and provide a basis for order within the anarchic society around us. Ø The English School’s focus is not on any one institution or international organization, but on institutions in the international sense i.e. diplomacy Ø A focus on individuals, norms, values, practices, and discourse Key thinkers Ø Hugo Grotius Ø Hedley Bull (Read “Anarchy” in GCR) o The Anarchical Society (1977) Ø Martin Wight Ø Barry Buzan

Key questions - How does international anarchy produce international order? - How are institutions defined by English School proponents?...