A

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS IN WORLD HISTORY

REMAKING THE STUDY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

BARRY^BUZAN AND RICHARD LITTLE

OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS

DETAILED CONTENTS
Preface List of Figures List of Maps List of Tables Abbreviations vii xvii ^xviii xix xx

INTRODUCTION

PART I: INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS, WORLD HISTORY, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORY

15

1. Systems, History, Theory, and the Study of International Relations

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Underdeveloped Conception of the International System The Historiography of International Relations World History Why Prefer the Label 'International Systems'? Conclusions

17
18 22 30 32 33

2. Competing Conceptions of the International System

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Singer and the Behavioural Conception of the International System Waltz and the Neorealist Conception of the International System Wendt and the Constructivist Conception of the International System Theoretical Pluralism and the Conception of the International System Conclusions

35
36 39 41 43 47

3. Systemic Thinking in World History

1. Scientific and Philosophical World History 2. Divergent Approaches to World History 3. Conclusions 4. The Theoretical Toolkit of this Book 1. Levels of Analysis 2. Sectors of Analysis 3. Sources of Explanation 4. Conclusions

49
49 52 67 68 68 72 77 88

5. Establishing Criteria for International Systems

1. First Order Problems of Definition

90
90

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DETAILED CONTENTS

2. Second Order Problems of Definition 3. Using the Toolkit: Theory Meets History

101 108

PART II: SYSTEMS IN PRE-INTERNATIONAL WORLD HISTORY

111
111 115

Introduction to Part II 6. The Origins of Pre-international Systems

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Theoretical Interest in the Pre-international Units Interaction Capacity Process Structure Conclusions

"5
116 119 123 130 133

7. The Transition from Pre-international to International Systems

1. 2. 3. 4. Units Interaction Capacity Process Structure

134
137 141 145 156

Conclusion to Part II

160

PART III: THE RISE AND INTERLINKAGE OF MULTIPLE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEMS IN THE ANCIENT AND CLASSICAL WORLD

163

Introduction to Part III 8. The New Units: City-States, Empires, and Barbarians as the Main Actors of the Ancient and Classical World
1. City-States and Empires 2. Nomadic Tribes and their Empires 3. Conclusions

163 167
167 183 189

9. Interaction Capacity in Ancient and Classical International Systems

1. Physical Technologies of Transportation and Communication 2. Social Technologies of Transportation and Communication 3. Conclusions 10. Process in Ancient and Classical International Systems 1. Military-Political Process 2. Economic Process

190
193 199 214 216 217 219

DETAILED CONTENTS XV

3. Societal Process 4. Environmental Process 5. Conclusions 11. Structure in Ancient and Classical International Systems 1. Military-Political Structure 2. Economic Structure 3. Societal Structure 4. Conclusions Conclusion to Part III

223 226 227 228 228 233 235 238 239

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PART IV: THE ESTABLISHMENT AND EVOLUTION OF A GLOBAL INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

241

Introduction to Part IV 12. Units in the Modern International System

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Introduction Europe and the Rise of the Modern State The Evolution of the Modern State The Spread of the Modern State and the Demise of Older Unit Types The Development of Non-state Units Conclusions

241 243
243 246 251 256 266 274

13. Interaction Capacity in the Modern International System

1. 2. 3. 4. Introduction Physical Technologies Social Technologies Conclusions

276
276 276 288 295

14. Process in the Modern International System

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Introduction Military-Political Process Economic Process Societal Process Environmental Process Conclusions

300
300 302 306 316 325 328

15. Structure in the Modern International System

1. Introduction 2. Military-Political Structure 3. Economic Structure

330
330 331 334

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4. Societal Structure 5. Conclusions Conclusion to Part IV

336 341 344

PARTV: SPECULATIONS, ASSESSMENTS, REFLECTIONS Introduction to Part V 16. Outlook: A Postmodern International System? 1. Introduction 2. Scale 3. Interaction Capacity 4. Process 5. Units 6. Structure 7. Conclusions 17. What World History Tells us about International Relations Theory 1. International System 2. Units 3. Interaction Capacity 4. Process 5. Structure 6. Conclusions 18. What International Relations Theory Tells us about World History 1. Periodization and World History 2. Periodization and IR Theory 3. Competing Approaches to the Periodization of World History 4. Summary of the Chronology of World History Derived from our Framework 19. Reflections 1. World History and International Systems 2. Weak and Strong International Systems 3. An End and a Beginning References Glossary Index

347 347 349

349
350 350 353 358 362

368

369
369 374 378 379
382

385

386
386 389 393
405

407
407 409 414

417 440 443

LIST OF FIGURES
4.1 5.1 5.2 6.1 7.1 7.2 7.3 8.1 8.2 12.1 12.2 12.3 16.1 18.1 18.2 Levels and sectors in the international system Linear and multiordinate international systems The Eurasian model: multiple full international systems embedded in an economic international system The hexagonal lattice model of HGB systems The demise of small-scale units Hierarchy of settlements Linguistic diversity Watson's model of functional differentiation within empires The 'international' structure of empires The feudal system: multiple overlapping sovereignties The evolution of government in the modern state The basic form of the Westphalian international system of states The basic form of the postmodern international system Pre-international and international systems in world history Comparative periodization: primary turning points in world history 77 97 100 121 140 142 144 179 180 245 254 265 367 390 394