English School Theory of International Relations: Its Origins, Concepts, and Debates

Abstract

This article introduces and evaluates the English School of international relations theories. First we discuss the School’s roots, traditions, founding fathers and its ontology and methodology. Then the main arguments of the English School (ES) that constitute its core tenets and the grand questions that the founding fathers discussed are presented. In the second part, the two paths – normative and structural – taken by second generation ES scholars are discussed. This article argues that ES has a potential to be a ‘grand theory’ for the IR literature due to its rich theoretical background that allows both analytical and normative analyses.

Keywords

English School, IR Theory, Martin Wight, Hedley Bull, Barry Buzan, International Society.

Citation

Devlen, Balkan and Özdamar, Özgür, “English School Theory of International Relations: Its Origins, Concepts, and Debates”, International Relations, Volume 7, Issue 25 (Spring 2010), pp. 43-68.

Affiliations

• Balkan Devlen, Assistant Professor, Izmir University of Economics, Department of International Relations and EU
• Özgür Özdamar, Assistant Professor, Bilkent University, Department of International Relations