Making Global Society: A Study of Humankind Across Three Eras

Barry Buzan suggests a new approach to making International Relations a global discipline that transcends Eurocentrism and comparative civilisations. He narrates the story of humankind as a whole across three eras, using its material conditions and social structures to show how global society has evolved. Buzan sharpens the familiar story of three main eras in human history with the novel idea that these eras are separated by turbulent periods of transition, enabling a radical retelling of how modernity emerged from the late 18th century. He shows how the concept of global society can build bridges connecting International Relations, Global Historical Sociology, and Global/World History.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 10 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Barry Buzan presents a novel approach to establishing International Relations as a truly global discipline that surpasses Eurocentrism and comparative civilisations. He weaves a narrative of humankind across three eras, utilising the material conditions and social structures to illustrate the evolution of global society. By employing the concept of primary institutions from the English School and framing their story across three domains – interpolity, transnationalism, and interhumanism – this book offers a vibrant historical perspective while avoiding the abstraction of many social science grand theories. Buzan further sharpens the familiar narrative of three primary eras in human history by introducing disruptive periods of transition that divide them. This innovative framework enables a radical retelling of how modernity emerged in the late 18th century. He demonstrates how the concept of global society can serve as a bridge between International Relations, Global Historical Sociology, and Global/World History, fostering a holistic understanding of our interconnected world.

Weight: 912g
Dimension: 158 x 237 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009372190