On The Methodology Of The English School

The English School plays a very important role in the IR theories. And this is closely related to its methodology. However,there are still some disagreements on this. And this paper is trying to explore the features of its methodology.The preface mainly introduces the present situation of the research on the methodology of the English School and summarizes the thoughtway of this paper.Chapter One reviews the periods of the developments of the English School and the status of the reconvening of the English School.Chapter Two discusses the features of the English School and indicates that the English School in fact applies the positivist approach to the study of international system,the hermeneutic approach to the study of international society and the critical theory to the study of world society.Chapter Three compares the English School to Wendt's theory,indicates that they both use the post-positivist research method and stress on the social meaning in the international politics. But Wendt emphasizes the scientific analysis and advances three variables. On the contrary,the English School emphasizes the historical analysis and the function of the international law.The ultimate conclusion of this paper is that the methodology of the English School is pluralistic though it emphasizes particularly on the interpretive analysis on history and its research field needs broadening. On the whole,the potential of the English School should not be underestimated due to its pluralistic methodology.