This slide about the process how nations in international arena make their own evolution until what we have now.

1. Baylis, Smith & Owens
The Globalization of World Politics 5e
Chapter 2
The evolution of international society

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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 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

9. Case Study
The Iranian Revolution, 1979

10. Case Study
The Iranian Revolution, 1979