International History versus International History versus International RelationsInternational Relations

Different means and different ends?Different means and different ends?

StructureStructure

1. What is international history?1. What is international history?

2. What is international relations?2. What is international relations?

3. How are the two related?3. How are the two related?

Why do IR scholars need Why do IR scholars need history?history?

·   ·    Why can I.R. scholars avoid history?Why can I.R. scholars avoid history?

  

·   ·    What are the distinguishing What are the distinguishing characteristics between ‘historical’ characteristics between ‘historical’

and ‘political/social science’ or and ‘political/social science’ or international political theory international political theory

approaches to international affairs?approaches to international affairs?

Useful essays on IH/IRUseful essays on IH/IR

Colin Elman and M F Elman (eds) Colin Elman and M F Elman (eds) Bridge and Bridge and Boundaries. Historians, Political Scientists and the Boundaries. Historians, Political Scientists and the Study of International RelationsStudy of International Relations (MIT Press, 2001). (MIT Press, 2001).

Introductory essays on theory and history Introductory essays on theory and history Four case studies with 3-4 chapters in each on Four case studies with 3-4 chapters in each on

the 30 year crisis, the 30 year crisis, the rise and fall of British hegemony, the rise and fall of British hegemony,

the cold war, and the cold war, and the Revolution in Military affairsthe Revolution in Military affairs

  'Special Issue' on International History/International 'Special Issue' on International History/International

Relations, in Relations, in International Security International Security - available - available 'online' vol. 22 Summer 1997'online' vol. 22 Summer 1997

Excellent collection of essays on International History / IR interfaceExcellent collection of essays on International History / IR interface

International Historians versus International Historians versus IR ScholarsIR Scholars

Need to distinguish how international Need to distinguish how international historians (e.g. NW) write international historians (e.g. NW) write international history from how IR theorists make use of history from how IR theorists make use of the past (e.g. MR) the past (e.g. MR)

e.g. Dr Matthew Rendall is an IR scholar who uses e.g. Dr Matthew Rendall is an IR scholar who uses historyhistory

e.g. Dr Neville Wylie is an international historian. e.g. Dr Neville Wylie is an international historian. Other historians in School of Politics and Other historians in School of Politics and International Relations past & present e.g. International Relations past & present e.g. Matthew Jones, Alex Danchev, Malika Rahal etc.Matthew Jones, Alex Danchev, Malika Rahal etc.

  

History & I.R

British tradition + Nottingham strength

Particular characteristic of I.R. team at Nottingham• Yet built on ‘British’ tradition

Differences between two disciplines appear greater in US than Europe

The British International History The British International History GroupGroup

‘‘The British International History Group (BIHG) was founded in The British International History Group (BIHG) was founded in 1987, as a sub-group of the British International Studies 1987, as a sub-group of the British International Studies Association (BISA).  It exists to draw together all those interested Association (BISA).  It exists to draw together all those interested in teaching and researching into the history of international in teaching and researching into the history of international relations at university level in the United Kingdom. As well as relations at university level in the United Kingdom. As well as organising panels at the BISA conference each December, the organising panels at the BISA conference each December, the Group holds its own conference in September, which includes the Group holds its own conference in September, which includes the annual general meeting. The BIHG committee, elected at the annual general meeting. The BIHG committee, elected at the conference, also acts as a link to other institutions such as the conference, also acts as a link to other institutions such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and The National Archives.’ Foreign and Commonwealth Office and The National Archives.’

http://www.bihg.ac.uk/

Organisations in the field of Organisations in the field of International HistoryInternational History

British International Studies Association (BISA) – the parent – the parent organisation of BIHGorganisation of BIHG

Centre for Contemporary British History Foreign and Commonwealth Office Institute of Historical ResearchInstitute of Historical Research H-Diplo for those interested in diplomatic methodH-Diplo for those interested in diplomatic method Royal Historical SocietyRoyal Historical Society Society for Historians of American Foreign RelationsSociety for Historians of American Foreign Relations Transatlantic Studies AssociationTransatlantic Studies Association http://www.bihg.ac.uk/Links/Organisations.aspx - see here for http://www.bihg.ac.uk/Links/Organisations.aspx - see here for

linkslinks

Approaches of international historians

What are the research techniques and What are the research techniques and methodologies adopted by methodologies adopted by international historians? (NW)international historians? (NW)

Key Text: Marc Trachtenberg, Key Text: Marc Trachtenberg, The craft The craft of international history: a guide to of international history: a guide to methodmethod (PUP, 2006) (PUP, 2006)

Principal Differences between IH/IR

1. Questions What drives the analysis?

Lumping or splitting Parsimony over ‘thick’ descriptionParsimony over ‘thick’ description Deductive logic vs coherent narrativeDeductive logic vs coherent narrative

2. Approach towards ‘the past’

2.Historical: Historical:

- Locate a Problem/Issue- Locate a Problem/Issue

- assess quantity/quality of sources- assess quantity/quality of sources

- balance sources : issue via selection of - balance sources : issue via selection of particular ‘approach’particular ‘approach’

Pol Sci.Pol Sci.

- Formulate hypothesis- Formulate hypothesis

- test by applying theory and empirical study- test by applying theory and empirical study

- Refine theory- Refine theory

3. Subject Matter3. Subject Matter

Human society: continuity or changeHuman society: continuity or change

Versus Underlying patterns and Versus Underlying patterns and structuresstructures

4. Audience4. Audience

Policy relevant research?Policy relevant research?

‘‘Academic historians’ Academic historians’

‘‘Popular’ historians’Popular’ historians’

5. Sources

Primary v Secondary Official documentation v interviews Closed/confidential v open. Qualitative data v quantitative data http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

National Archives, Kew National Archives, Kew Gardens Tube, LondonGardens Tube, London

‘Understand the archives in minutes’

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/gettingstarted/understand-the-archive/default.htm?WT.ac=mh-understand-the-archives

Security or defence archives

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/securityhistory/?WT.ac=sa-securityhistory

IH/IR on Origins of First World War

Historian’s perspective IR perspective

• Innenpolitik vs Aussenpolitik explanations; polarity; power transitions and preventive war; offence-defence theory, cognitive psychology  

IH & IR on the Concert of IH & IR on the Concert of EuropeEurope

The IR scholar may seek to apply IR theories/methods to events over The IR scholar may seek to apply IR theories/methods to events over 150 years ago 150 years ago

The Concert of EuropeThe Concert of Europe1. Historian’s perspective 1. Historian’s perspective 2. IR perspective (MR)2. IR perspective (MR)- Realist/institutionalist debateRealist/institutionalist debate- Was the Concert a successful collective security regime?Was the Concert a successful collective security regime?

IR/IH from below? History of Mat Salleh Rebellion during British

Protectorate rule of North Borneo under North Borneo Chartered Company 1882-1946

North Borneo inland non-literate groups entering world history

Colonial company records in Malaysia and UK Limits of company records, memoirs etc Use of oral history – oral tradition to reconstruct history Historical/anthropological account contributing to IR

understanding of conflict & politics of peace negotiations and conflict management (or its failure)

Plus understanding of stateless society and an anarchic system

Potential relevance to understanding international system as anarchic system

PhD research Sanen Marshall, November 2009  

IH/IR Differences can be exaggerated

1. Questions General v Specifics What’s the bigger picture? So what?

2. Narrative = not un-analytical. Narrative = implicit theoretical assumptions,

priorities etc. 3. General/Particular

Historians - explain the particular, refer to the general

Political Scientists – explain the general by generalising the particular. 

IH/IR Differences can be exaggerated

4. Sources• ‘30’ Year rule makes us all Political

Scientists/theorists. • Selective release of official papers. • Government control • Scaling the mountain • Use of theories to sift sources and fill gaps

5. Approach• Demise of ‘structural explanations’ in I.R. theory

in favour of ‘constructivism’ plus postmodern turn in both leading to more overlap again

What can I.R. scholars ‘take’ from History?

1. Perspective Perspective – transient over historically important. Perspective – transient over historically important.

Extend the hinterlandExtend the hinterland Prediction

• I.R. claims for predictive quality frequently misplaced 2. Understanding of Historian’s craft to improve quality of case to improve quality of case

study methodstudy method 3. Better Selection of Material & Choice of Case-Studies:

Learn to ‘fit’ and ‘unfit’, rather than ‘use’ and ‘abuse’ 4. Heighten sensitivity to human agency and Heighten sensitivity to human agency and

contingency.contingency. 5. Shift from structuralism to constructivism in IR.

But criticism theoretical turn in IR in 1990s also guilty of neglect of empirical

IR theoretical turn & neglect of empirical?

IR theory in Britain – the New Black?IR theory in Britain – the New Black? CHRIS BROWN CHRIS BROWN Review of International Studies, Volume 32, Issue 04, Review of International Studies, Volume 32, Issue 04,

October 2006, pp 677-687 October 2006, pp 677-687 ‘‘Anniversaries are occasions for celebration and reflection. The thirtieth Anniversaries are occasions for celebration and reflection. The thirtieth

anniversary of BISA presents the opportunity to look back over what has anniversary of BISA presents the opportunity to look back over what has been achieved in the eventful years since the foundation of the Association, been achieved in the eventful years since the foundation of the Association, but also the duty of identifying things that have gone wrong, paths not but also the duty of identifying things that have gone wrong, paths not taken or promising avenues that turned out to be dead-ends. We owe it to taken or promising avenues that turned out to be dead-ends. We owe it to the people who founded BISA – some still here, others, sadly, gone – to the people who founded BISA – some still here, others, sadly, gone – to preserve the critical spirit even when celebrating our achievements, and I preserve the critical spirit even when celebrating our achievements, and I will certainly honour that debt in this talk.’will certainly honour that debt in this talk.’• Transcript of a plenary lecture given at the British International Studies Association, Transcript of a plenary lecture given at the British International Studies Association,

University of St. Andrews, December 2005.University of St. Andrews, December 2005.

Footnote: History debatesFootnote: History debatesHistorical NarrativeHistorical Narrative

- Postmodernist challenge: its culturally Postmodernist challenge: its culturally relative and merely a figment of relative and merely a figment of imaginationimagination

- Is one narrative better than another?Is one narrative better than another?- Is a narrative merely a reflection of our Is a narrative merely a reflection of our

current concerns and vantage pointcurrent concerns and vantage point- Is there an historical ‘truth’?Is there an historical ‘truth’?- Has the craft of history improved?Has the craft of history improved?

The University of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham

   

Theory in historyTheory in history

- Scepticism towards prejudicing ‘objective’ Scepticism towards prejudicing ‘objective’ reading of the events by admitting to pre-reading of the events by admitting to pre-conceived ideas/expectationsconceived ideas/expectations

- Theoretical assumptions = grounded on Theoretical assumptions = grounded on contemporary experience – which is an contemporary experience – which is an antithetical to the task of reconstructing antithetical to the task of reconstructing past eventspast events

The University of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham

   

AssumptionsAssumptions

But – what about implicit assumptions about But – what about implicit assumptions about the past, or our subject: do they have a the past, or our subject: do they have a theoretical basis?theoretical basis?

Isn’t our choice of subject affected by our Isn’t our choice of subject affected by our theoretical outlook?theoretical outlook?

Historians as theorists – Gaddis, SchroederHistorians as theorists – Gaddis, Schroeder

The University of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham

   

Key to Historical craft = Key to Historical craft = sensitivitysensitivity

- What evidence are you looking forWhat evidence are you looking for- Where are you likely to find itWhere are you likely to find it- What’s its provenance? What’s its provenance? - How do you ‘read’ the document – what does it How do you ‘read’ the document – what does it

tell us about the past – explicitly and implicitly?tell us about the past – explicitly and implicitly?

Dangers?Dangers?- Is the ‘archive’ an analogue of reality?Is the ‘archive’ an analogue of reality?- Who has selected what, for preservation?Who has selected what, for preservation?- How can you scale the mountain?How can you scale the mountain?- Freedom of Information Act (Foia!)Freedom of Information Act (Foia!)

Autumn 2009Autumn 2009

   

Dangers?Dangers?

- Is the ‘archive’ an analogue of reality?Is the ‘archive’ an analogue of reality?- Who has selected what, for preservation?Who has selected what, for preservation?- How can you scale the mountain?How can you scale the mountain?- Freedom of Information Act (Foia!)Freedom of Information Act (Foia!)

Dr Vanessa PupavacDr Vanessa Pupavac

   

Thank You and Happy Study & Vacation from me

Remember final lecture next week with Dr Sabine Carey