THE CONCEPT OF INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FROM THE ENGLISH SCHOOL OF THOUGHT: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Since the commencement of theorization in International Relations as a university branch of science, the primary ontological issue pertaining to the theory of international relations has been how to argue about its area of scholarship, referred to as "International Society" in the English School. In this framework, given its significance as well as ambiguities prevailing among IR scholars, the current study primarily tries to recognize the place of this concept within the English School. Then the article seeks to explore its critiques. In the third section, international system/society distinction will be critically explained. Based on the mentioned critiques, it follows that "International Society" is a deeply Europe-centric notion requiring its de-Europeanization, which may provide IR scholars with a historical genealogy, critically reflecting the expansion of international society, and a theoretical investigation on its future, dealing with the possibility of its transformation. Finally, it will be argued that, on the balance, these two investigating pivots may lead to the reconstruction of the concept of "International Society".