International Political Thought and Historical International Relations

This chapter critically surveys recent developments in the subfield of Historical International Relations (HIR). It looks at the evolution of HIR as a particular approach to the study of IR and examines its development through competing approaches offered by contemporary scholars. The chapter suggests that this subfield provides an insightful and innovative branch of scholarship in contemporary IR, which can pave the way to new futures of the discipline. In particular, the chapter explores in depth the various interactions between HIR and International Political Thought (IPT), which has recently gained greater prominence in the discipline of History. The chapter argues that the dialogue between these two approaches to the study of the international – HIR and IPT – can be mutually enriching, but also embodies some methodological limits. Finally, the chapter offers some ways forward in the intersection of HIR and IPT.