Στο εξαιρετικά περιεκτικό αυτό βιβλίο ο Adam Watson επιχειρεί να εξετάσει την υφιστάμενη διεθνή κοινωνία της νεότερης εποχής στα πλαίσια μιας ευρύτερης μελέτης που αντλεί από ολόκληρη την παγκόσμια ιστορία. Ακολουθώντας τις μεθόδους της ιστορικής κοινωνιολογίας, απομονώνει, αναλύει και συγκρίνει τις ουσιώδεις και διαχρονικά συγκρίσιμες δομές κάθε μείζονος διεθνούς κοινωνίας από την πρώιμη αρχαιότητα μέχρι σήμερα.
Very much a grad student text. Where he knew his material he often pulled in settlements and historical moments without explaining them; where he didn’t know it as well he wrote a short and skimpy essay. Good overview for anyone interested in international relations and its historical roots, but probably could have functioned better as a long essay than a book.
Great analysis! It mixes History, Sociology and theory of International Relations to help you understand the concept of "international society" and how it was applied to all known international systems. The analysis of the European System, in particular, is amazing.
Adam Watson's The Evolution of International Society was among the first books I read during my International Relations studies. Watson traces the historical evolution of state systems, from ancient Sumeria to our modern global order, emphasizing the interplay between independence and order. His spectrum model ranging from sovereign independence to imperial dominance offers a powerful analytical tool for understanding international dynamics. What stands out most is his exploration of legitimacy in power structures and his insistence that past systems offer critical lessons for today’s diplomacy. A foundational text for understanding the art and science of international relations.
I read this book for graduate school. It is not my favorite. I felt that Watson was very one sided in his historical telling. At one point he brings up Persia’s profound influence on India but never brings it up again. And this happens on multiple occasions throughout the book. Why raise questions with no intention of answering them?