The English School and the Idea of International Society

In this paper, the perspectives of the thinkers who are redarded as the founders of the English School are examined. In doing so, arguments, methodology and ontology on which the theory of the English School based will be explored. In order to represent the theory as an analytical tool, the concept of “international society”, which was the most authentic contribution of the English School to the International Relations literature, and which was evolved with the legacy of the antiquity, will be discussed. The concept explains how the anarchical structure of the international system operates. After its founding thinkers, the followers of the English School divided into two wings as normative writers and structural writers. The writers in question and debates around the English School will be mentioned shortly to narrow down the scope of the paper. Within the international society, the affects of the evolution of the international law, diplomacy and power policy institutions on the formation of the today’s international system will be displayed.