World From A Historical Sociology Perspective

As one of the great minds of the20th century’s realist school for International Relations Theory(IRT) in the Western world, Raymond Aron is the most distinguished French intellectual whose name resounds in countless academic circles. Philosopher, sociologist, politician, at the same time celebrated scholar of International relations, his scholarship stretches unimpededly across these various academic fields thus all enjoy a high reputation therein. In developing a whole series of original methodology based on historical sociology, his achievements represent an independent theoretical system constructed for the International Relation discipline, which become in many aspects a’contre-voix’for the America dominated academia of international relations, forming a voice of his own. Historical sociology is a branch of sociology focusing on how societies develop through history. It looks at how social structures that many regard as natural are in fact shaped by complex social processes. Enriched by complex connotations, historical sociology as series of methodologies both integrated and cross-disciplinary, contains brand new conceptions, variables designed and weighed at different levels of analysis; Neither a simple historical narration nor any measure of positive construction for IRT, but it’s rather a theoretical system in maturity Aron developed-on the basis of his consummate knowledge in German historical philosophy, European continental traditional sociology and Anglo-Saxon analytical philosophy, with an original perspective in viewing international relation problems bestowed on him. The vicissitudes in the international arena of20th century approved dramatically Aron’s interpretation as well as through arguments, his prophecy in precision tracks sign of extraordinary wits and insights. Although historical sociology as a methodology recommended by Aron owns fame of being abstruse and hard to be maintained, thus improbable to find a proper heritage to be truly understood and brought widespread in universal academia, in studying this methodology still proves to be significant. Once get its theoretical structure clarified and veins of thought tracked down, we’re surely expected to improve our study in IRT as well as perspective in observation of affairs in international arena, which keep on influencing the world.First and foremost, I start my analysis from sociological theory in the second chapter of this thesis, introducing and comparing sociologists as below who owned a great impact on Aron’s sociological thoughts:Montesquieu, August-Comte and Tocqueville; On sociology and historical philosophy parallel, there’s German sociologist Marx Weber whose thoughts used to reshape Aron’s. Based on the French-German classical sociology tradition, Aron adopted the special perspectives concerning many key questions, by which he formed outline of his industrial sociology theory, prudential liberalism, Probable determinism which occupy remarkable place in Aron’s IRT system. This thesis tries to do retrospection back into its sociological origins for Aron’s conception of history. A series of basic sociological concepts are also meticulously observed in the thesis, like research type, basic antinomy, seeking for objectification, a microcosmic experience of historical subject, possibility of historical holism as well as a debate between pluralism and universal values dialectics founded on academic tradition of phenomenology. Therefore my essay helps deepen in the understanding of sociological part within Aron’s historical sociology theory.The third chapter concentrates on Aron’s conception of history, videlicet his research method in history. Study his authentic text of his master piece in this field"lecon sur I’histoire" and "l’introduction a la philosophie historique"in order to clarify his point of view concerning the debate between narrative and analytical method of history research(The Hempel-Dray debate) firstly launched by C.G. Hempel and W. Dray. Between narration and scientific study, history and sociology, microcosmic view or holism all these notions which measure considerably in constructing a history world reasonable more than rational, my essay will stress on the analysis of how Aron got transcend through Weber’s absolute historical relativism beneath a sensible critique, thus formed Probable determinism as key essential leading to his own way of observation and narration in study of international relation history.The fourth chapter entitled by a composition of theoretical harmony aims at viewing Aron’s methodology of historical sociology integrated with study in IRT. Historical sociology as independent discipline in a much universal sense is highly differentiated from the conception system Aron borrowed in construction of his own system of international relation theory, although the English School(ES)of IRT has also both conceptually and logically benefited by historical sociology(HS), which owns branches both in Anglo-Saxon world and continent of Europe. This final chapter will be mainly contributed in Analysis of Aron’s monograph in the field of IRT "Peace and war", a typical and exemplary work which epitomizes the use of historical sociology methodology into international relation studies, so as we see in its forming process and structure layout. In divergence both from theoretical resources and methodology, Aron’s style for analysis is differentiated from IRT schools prevailing in the US, especially the Classical Realism trend led by Hans Morgenthau. Despite of the fame of Aron’s theory in being"mosaic rather than motley, abstruse no less than obscure", my essay tries its best to grasp the sense of the abstract theory on the basis of various concrete examples following thoughts’vein and make full use of accessible materials. To make a reasonable distinction between realism and idealism, the conception of national interest enriched by homogeneous and heterogeneous system juxtaposed in international system, Aron made his audience fully aware of the importance of ideology difference in the formation of diplomatic strategies between the East and West in the context of Cold War. Subtlety and delicacy in analysis, accuracy and precision in prophecy, Aron’s scholarship passed through the test of history so as to surpass in many aspects over the US’s IRT schools which stress most on clear conceptual framework and normative measuring methods.In the summary of the_hesis, I hope it can help a comprehensive study in Raymond Aron’s international thoughts, while some empirical points drawn from international relation history are concretely added by much vivid but no less full-scaled vision of historical sociology, which could be served as an almost indispensable element in a mature, panoramic perspective of IRT studies.