THE HISTORICAL SOCIOLOGY OF THE STATE AND THE STATE OF HISTORICAL SOCIOLOGY IN INTERNATIONAL-RELATIONS

With the current concern to critique neorealism, international relatio ns (IR) theorists are looking to a variety of new perspectives as a wa y forward. Various authors have taken a specific interest in Weberian historical sociology (WHS), outlined in the works of Michael Mann and others. Nevertheless, there is currently only a rudimentary understand ing of the approach within IR, and perhaps even less understanding of how it can be applied to LR. There is also a growing perception that t he approach is inherently realist. This article seeks to redress this. It begins by laying out the basic WHS approach by identifying six gen eral principles or traits. Special emphasis is given to recent develop ments in WHS's theory of state autonomy, which takes the approach beyo nd neorealism. Having considered how this approach overlaps with the c oncerns of various IR theorists, notably Linklater, Halliday and other s, it proceeds to examine how the approach can take IR beyond neoreali sm, by applying it to understanding: international economic change thr ough a historical examination of tariff protectionism and free trade; the international politics of states, war and revolution; and internat ional systems change (namely European industrialization). It concludes with a possible historical sociology research agenda for the study of IR.