The English School: A Via Media

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The English School: A Via Media The English School, also recognize as The International Society approach of the International Relations is a “Via Media” (Buzan, 2001, p471) between the Rationalism and Realist elements. The idea is that instead of separates elements, these should form a whole picture of the International Relations. The unique approaches of the English School to International Relations are its methodological pluralism, its historicism and its interlinking of three very important concepts: International System, International Society and World Society. The English School is not widely know in the American International Relations typical field, maybe because of its roots are The British Committee and early works and lectures about the international society from Charles Manning and Martin Wight. According to Buzan the work of the British Committee is key because of the “diverse group that contained not only people from several academic disciplines but also practitioners from the world of diplomacy” (Buzan, 2001) To Buzan in his work “ The English School: An Underexploit Resource in IR” and Devlen, James and Ozdamar in “The English School, International Relations and Progress” the English School is key a theory because its provide an opportunity to explore the area between the Rationalism and the Realist elements and how this elements can work together in a integrated approach to the study of International Relations. Starting Point The English School is based on a three-way division among: International System, International Society and World Society or as Wight’s original formulation: Realism, Rationalism and Revolutionism. The International System that is sometimes named by Hobbes or Machiavelli is all about po... ... middle of paper ... ... the value of all three, system, society and world society, and its work shows greatest allegiance with the societal account of International Relations (Devlen, James and Ozdamar 2005). Conclusion The English School plays and important and unique part of the International Relations combining a pluralistic approach and filling the gap between the two major elements. Also its methodical and historicism approach make the English School available to other disciplines that enrich the result of the International Relations studies. The English School also includes Order and Justice in their framework and is an obligation of the great power to preserve this order and to apply justice when need it. Finally the English School approach demonstrates that in order to understand International Relations it is essential to recognize all the variables and actors involved.

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