Relations between states are organized and regulated by elaborate rules and practices

The Evolution of International Society: A Comparative, Historical Analysis (Paperback) by Adam Watson (Author) "Our study of the evolution of international relations takes us back to the earliest written records..." (more) Key Phrases: multiple independences end, hegemonial authority, diffused hegemony, United States, Middle Ages, Latin Christendom (more...) (1 customer review)

Mar 28, 2009 The Evolution of International Society A Comparative Historical Analysis Reissue with a new introduction by Barry Buzan and Richard Little By Adam Watson

`This is a real feast of a book. ... a landmark book. It is clear enough to be used as a teaching text, and could make an excellent introduction to the discipline for those courageous enough to revise their courses.' International Affairs

Adam Watson, who died in 2007, was a former diplomat who in his later academic career became a pioneer of the discipline of international relations. Originally published in 1992, The Evolution of International Society made a major contribution to international theory and to our perception of how relations between states operate, and established Watson’s place within the canon.

This acclaimed and uniquely comprehensive work explains how international societies function across time, starting by examining the ancient state systems before turning to look in detail at the current worldwide international society. The book demonstrates that relations between states are not normally anarchic, but are in fact organized and regulated by elaborate rules and practices.

In this timely reissue, a new introduction by Barry Buzan and Richard Little assesses Adam Watson's career as a diplomat and examines how his work as a practitioner shaped his subsequent thinking about the nature of international society. It then contextualises Watson's original work, situates it alongside current work in the area and identifies the originality of Watson's key arguments, helping us to understand Watson’s place within the canon. ISBN: 9780415452090 Published March 26 2009 by Routledge.