Baylis, Smith & Owens
The Globalization of World Politics 5e
Chapter 2
The evolution of international society
What is International Society?
• Any association of distinct political
communities that accept common rules,
values, institutions
• Central concept of the “English school”
• Originally referred to European state
relations
What is International Society?
• Founded on these principles:
– Sovereign equality (vs. hierarchical,
hegemonial, imperial)
– Non-intervention
• Three key institutions:
– Diplomacy
– International law
– Balance of power
Ancient worlds
• Lacked emphasis on sovereign equality
• Various forms:
– Supranational (caliphate, papacy)
– Sub- and trans-national mosaic
• Still regulated by treaty, diplomacy, and some
norms of conduct
• Ex: Greece: city-state relations (arbitration,
Melian dialogue)
• Ex: Ancient China, India, Rome all had
distinctive forms of political organization
Christian and Islamic Order
• Medieval Europe’s international society
had complex mix:
– Supranational, transnational, subnational,
national
• Catholic Church helped elaborate
normative basis of society (canon law,
just war)
• Islam: community of believers (umma)
and treaty law with others
Emergence of Modern International
Society
• Key elements:
– Domination of Europe by larger states
– Protestant Reformation diminished Church
authority --> strengthened sovereign
equality
– Exploration of New World
– Attempt to develop ordering mechanisms
Modern International Society
• Codified in Peace of Westphalia (1648)
– But: “organized hypocrisy”? (Krasner)
• American and French Revolutions +
Napoleonic Wars
– Emergence of new nations and nationalism
– Concert of Europe: joint hegemony
• After Second World War: League of
Nations
– Attempt to be more organized
Globalization of International Society
• UN intended as improved UN, but largely
blocked by cold war
• Decolonization --> spread of European model
of international society
• Accelerated by collapse of USSR
• Globalization poses challenges for
sovereignty-based international society
– New forms of community, failing states, American
hyperpower, resistance to Western ideas, poverty,
environment
Case Study
The Iranian Revolution, 1979
Case Study
The Iranian Revolution, 1979

Baylis5e ch02

  • 1.
    Baylis, Smith &Owens The Globalization of World Politics 5e Chapter 2 The evolution of international society
  • 2.
    What is InternationalSociety? • Any association of distinct political communities that accept common rules, values, institutions • Central concept of the “English school” • Originally referred to European state relations
  • 3.
    What is InternationalSociety? • Founded on these principles: – Sovereign equality (vs. hierarchical, hegemonial, imperial) – Non-intervention • Three key institutions: – Diplomacy – International law – Balance of power
  • 4.
    Ancient worlds • Lackedemphasis on sovereign equality • Various forms: – Supranational (caliphate, papacy) – Sub- and trans-national mosaic • Still regulated by treaty, diplomacy, and some norms of conduct • Ex: Greece: city-state relations (arbitration, Melian dialogue) • Ex: Ancient China, India, Rome all had distinctive forms of political organization
  • 5.
    Christian and IslamicOrder • Medieval Europe’s international society had complex mix: – Supranational, transnational, subnational, national • Catholic Church helped elaborate normative basis of society (canon law, just war) • Islam: community of believers (umma) and treaty law with others
  • 6.
    Emergence of ModernInternational Society • Key elements: – Domination of Europe by larger states – Protestant Reformation diminished Church authority --> strengthened sovereign equality – Exploration of New World – Attempt to develop ordering mechanisms
  • 7.
    Modern International Society •Codified in Peace of Westphalia (1648) – But: “organized hypocrisy”? (Krasner) • American and French Revolutions + Napoleonic Wars – Emergence of new nations and nationalism – Concert of Europe: joint hegemony • After Second World War: League of Nations – Attempt to be more organized
  • 8.
    Globalization of InternationalSociety • UN intended as improved UN, but largely blocked by cold war • Decolonization --> spread of European model of international society • Accelerated by collapse of USSR • Globalization poses challenges for sovereignty-based international society – New forms of community, failing states, American hyperpower, resistance to Western ideas, poverty, environment
  • 9.
    Case Study The IranianRevolution, 1979
  • 10.
    Case Study The IranianRevolution, 1979