Hedley Bull once described what he called “the revolt against the West”. When looking at the contemporary international society, it seems that Bull’s narrative still has relevance today.
As the standard of civilization has fallen into disrepute, other standards have taken its place. Of particular importance is democracy, which encompasses human rights and the rule of law.
The question we must ask ourselves is whether the complexity of considerations excuses inaction when confronted with situations of severe human rights violations.
Looking at the world today, it is evident that although the English School does not explain everything, it does provide a fruitful framework for analysing the hope and tragedy of international society.
It would be disingenuous to prescribe an IR theory with Chinese characteristics. At most, it is possible to say what a cross-cultural theoretical encounter might require.
To enter European international society, a ‘standard’ of civilization had to be met, despite the fact that European states could not meet every aspect of this standard, in the evolving international society.
The English School in IR theory is generally associated with the notion of international society, which suggests that there is much institutionalization of shared values, mutual understandings, and common interests.
We should see The Anarchical Society as a book more important for what it says about Western anxieties in the latter half of the 1970s than for what it might offer latter-day theorists.
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