English School
Is there anything new in the English School concept of international society?
Introduction
The English School (henceforth ES), commonly known as the Rationalist or Grotian view exists as a response to the mainstream international relations theory of Realism and Liberalism with notable supporters being Hedley Bull, Martin Wight and Chris Brown. According to Hedley Bull, the founding assumptions of ES has its roots in classical Realism and uses the idea of an “anarchic society” as a starting point in the critical evaluation of modern international relations. As such, it is crucial to note the commonalities it shares with classical Realism, such as methodological historical approach and thus challenges the ahistorical approach of neorealists in showing how the world has developed to include an “international society” that can affect state actions (Little, 2000).
The origins of the English School stems from the apparent ‘naivety’ and over-assumptions of Realism and Liberalism which failed in explaining what they claim was the formation of an ‘International society of states’, which was the modernisation of international relations that had transcended the basic expectations of anarchic states but inherent failure of Liberalist claims of international cooperation. In a day where Liberalist like Fukuyama is claiming the Liberalist capitalist system as the “End of History” amidst the undeniable conflict present in parts of the world, the English School thus takes a balanced position in evaluating the dynamics behind international relations and states. The focus of the English School thus lied in the role and formation of international institutions and international law that had propagated peace and cohesive progress over the period of modern history, being able to provide a balanced theoretical understanding of its occurrence.
Hedley Bull dedicates an entire chapter in “The Anarchical Society” in explaining the paradoxical nature of an “international society”
Introduction
The English School (henceforth ES), commonly known as the Rationalist or Grotian view exists as a response to the mainstream international relations theory of Realism and Liberalism with notable supporters being Hedley Bull, Martin Wight and Chris Brown. According to Hedley Bull, the founding assumptions of ES has its roots in classical Realism and uses the idea of an “anarchic society” as a starting point in the critical evaluation of modern international relations. As such, it is crucial to note the commonalities it shares with classical Realism, such as methodological historical approach and thus challenges the ahistorical approach of neorealists in showing how the world has developed to include an “international society” that can affect state actions (Little, 2000).
The origins of the English School stems from the apparent ‘naivety’ and over-assumptions of Realism and Liberalism which failed in explaining what they claim was the formation of an ‘International society of states’, which was the modernisation of international relations that had transcended the basic expectations of anarchic states but inherent failure of Liberalist claims of international cooperation. In a day where Liberalist like Fukuyama is claiming the Liberalist capitalist system as the “End of History” amidst the undeniable conflict present in parts of the world, the English School thus takes a balanced position in evaluating the dynamics behind international relations and states. The focus of the English School thus lied in the role and formation of international institutions and international law that had propagated peace and cohesive progress over the period of modern history, being able to provide a balanced theoretical understanding of its occurrence.
Hedley Bull dedicates an entire chapter in “The Anarchical Society” in explaining the paradoxical nature of an “international society”