This doctoral dissertation investigates the sociology of Emile Durkheim in the study of International Relations (IR). It identifies the problem that IR has interpreted Durkheimian sociology erroneously, exemplified particularly by Kenneth Waltz’s application of Durkheimian sociology in his theory of structural realism. As a result, this dissertation wonders what benefit IR can acquire from a thorough and proper engagement with Durkheimian sociology. The answer to this question is an appropriated version of Durkheimian anomie theory. On behalf of a historic case study of inter-state relations from 1814 to the mid-1820s this dissertation shows that an appropriated version of anomie theory perfectly complements IR’s, and notably English School (ES), conceptualisation of international society. Thereby, ES’s conceptualisation of international society is not considered erroneous but incomplete. This dissertation’s appropriated version of Durkheimian anomie theory fills this lacuna and thus provides IR, notably ES theory, with a fitting explanation of why a society of states develops. Furthermore, presuming ES theory’s tenet that an international system is antecedent to an international society, this dissertation’s version of anomie theory provides IR and ES theory with an explanation of why a society of states can atavistically regress from a society back into a system of states. Anomie theory thereby embraces the emergence and regression of a society of states in the study of IR.    «

This doctoral dissertation investigates the sociology of Emile Durkheim in the study of International Relations (IR). It identifies the problem that IR has interpreted Durkheimian sociology erroneously, exemplified particularly by Kenneth Waltz’s application of Durkheimian sociology in his theory of structural realism. As a result, this dissertation wonders what benefit IR can acquire from a thorough and proper engagement with Durkheimian sociology. The answer to this question is an appropriated...    »