The Interaction between Historical Sociology and Theories of International Relations: Theories of the State in Historical Sociology
Author: Hubert Chia-Che Yu, Cheng-Hung Lee
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
From the 1970s, theories of the state in historical sociology arose fromencounters with theories of international relations. Here we have three distinctwaves of development. The first is the theory of “bringing the state back in.” Itargues the state has both international and domestic sides, and that the autonomyand capacity of the state are stronger specifically under conditions of war or crisis.The second is the theory of the “polymorphous state”. It analyzes internal relationsbetween state and society, and understands state power from institutional sources. Inaddition, the theory of the “polymorphous state” explains how the competitiveinternational system promoted the rise of the modern nation state. The third is thetheory of the “complex state”. It criticizes the theory of “bringing the state back in”for realist reductionism. According to this theory, the state’s autonomy comes frominteractiveness and mutual infiltration between state and society. The state has bothinternational and domestic autonomy simultaneously, regardless of whether there isa situation of war or crisis. In short, these three waves of theories in historicalsociology enrich our knowledge of the state, and provide more space to think aboutinternational relations theory.