Global International Society
A New Framework for Analysis

A new and systematic view of how global international society came into being and acquired its current structure and dynamics.

Barry Buzan (Author), Laust Schouenborg (Author)

9781108427883, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 23 August 2018

286 pages
23.5 x 15.6 x 1.8 cm, 0.53 kg

'Buzan and Schouenborg have succeeded in dealing with one of the most straightforward, yet most difficult, questions for international relations theorists in general and English School thinkers in particular: what is global international society? The impressive historical, analytical, and theoretical rigour of this volume will be a reference point for all those interested in how norms, institutions, and the overall social structure of world politics originated and evolved in the past, are strengthening or weakening in the present, and may change in the future.' Filippo Costa Buranelli, University of St Andrews

This ambitious book provides a new framework for analysing global international society (GIS). In doing so, it also links the English School's approach more closely to classical sociology, constructivism, liberal institutionalism, realism and postcolonialism. It retells the expansion of international society story to explain why the differences among states are as important as their similarities in understanding the structure and dynamics of contemporary GIS. Drawing on differentiation theory, it sets out four ideal-type models for international society. These cover the 'like units' of the classical English School, as well as differentiation by geography, hierarchy/privilege, and function. These models offer a systematic way to integrate international and world society, and to understand the relationship between the deep structure of primary institutions, and the vast array of intergovernmental and international non-governmental organisations. In this pioneering book, Buzan and Schouenborg present the reader with the first systematic attempt to define criteria for assessing whether international society is becoming stronger or weaker.

1. Theorising international society
2. The making of contemporary global international society: how do international societies grow/expand?
3. The 'like-units' model
4. The regions/subglobal model
5. The hierarchy/privilege model
6. The functional differentiation model
7. Aggregating the models: the complex differentiation of contemporary global international society
Conclusions.

Subject Areas: International organisations & institutions [LBBU], International relations [JPS], Sociology [JHB], Society & culture: general [JF]