1. Historical International Relations.
- Author
-
Nexon, Daniel
- Subjects
- *
HISTORICAL sociology , *INTERNATIONAL relations , *SOCIOLOGY , *ANTHROPOLOGY , *HISTORY , *MODERNITY - Abstract
"Historical sociology," properly understood, is nothing more than the application of sociological frameworks to historical events. Proponents of an "historical sociology of international relations," however, often conflate "sociology" with a set of orientations favorable to particular theories and methods (such as constructivism and historical institutionalism) and antithetical to others (such as rational-choice). But nearly every major methodological approach found in international-relations theory has some cousin in historical sociology. Although some recent work by proponents of "historical sociology of international relations" recognizes the methodological diversity of the subfield of historical sociology, few proponents come to what I believe is the obvious conclusion: we should not be talking about an "historical sociology of international relations" but simply "historical international relations": the engagement of international-relations theories and puzzles with historical analysis. This not only allows us to better focus the issues involved in dialog between historical sociology and international-relations scholarship, but calls our attention to parallel "big issues" in both subfields surrounding inquiry into the development of various dimensions of modernity. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008