The English School - Buzan text

11 important questions on The English School - Buzan text

Which 2 different models for society coming into being are distinguished by Buzan?

  1. The civilizational model: Gemeinschaft;
  2. The functional model: Gesellschaft.

What does the civilizational or Gemeinschaft model, as discussed by Buzan entail? And who supported it?

The Gemeinschaft model regards societies as historical concepts that grow. Units share a significant element of culture in this model. This model was advocated by Wight.

What does the functional or Gesellschaft model, as discussed by Buzan, entail? And who supported it?

The Gesellschaft model regards society as contractual and constructed. It is a more functional view. The development of international society can be seen as a rational long-term response to the existence of an increasingly dense and interactive international system. A common culture is not necessary. Bull supported this model.
  • Higher grades + faster learning
  • Never study anything twice
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Discover Study Smart

Which 3 goals as basic to any society does Bull propose?

  1. Some limits on the use of force;
  2. Some provision for the sanctity of contracts;
  3. Some arrangements for the assignment of property rights.

To what weakness of the Gesellschaft argument does Bull admit?

The Gesellschaft argument disregards the role of common identity which is very important to the concept of society. Not only common goals but common identities.

What are the 2 possibilities how a Gesellschaft society can obtain a common identity in an anarchistic system, as proposed by Bull?

  1. Anarchy generates like units: by constant interaction, units are made more similar and they accept each other as members of the system, and, therefore, as the same type of entity as themselves.
  2. Anarchy generates unlike units: the units accept the differences between one another and set up rules to legitimize the differentiation of units and establish the distribution of rights and responsibilities among functionally differentiated actors.

How do international and world society differ according to Buzan?

International society is the nature of relations amongst states/political communities.
World society takes the global population as a whole as the focus of global societal identities and arrangements.


How do international society and world society oppose, according to Buzan? And what argument counters this statement?

International society is more realist and world society is more idealist. As Bull stated, international society is concerned with common norms/rules/identities among state and world society is concerned with common norms/rules/identities held by individuals across the system. However, identities are not mutually exclusove.

How do international society and world society complement each other, according to Buzan?

International society is a sort of basis for the world society. Therefore, world society and international society can only mutually develop.

To what conclusion does Buzan come regarding the relationship between the anarchic international system and the international society?

He comes to the conclusion that unless one unit is able to dominate the international system (unipolar), the pressures of life in the anarchy virtually force the eventual development of at least a few basic elements of international society.

What forms the boundary between an international system and an international society?

When units not only recognize each other as being the same type of entity but also are prepared to accord each other equal legal status on that basis.

The question on the page originate from the summary of the following study material:

  • A unique study and practice tool
  • Never study anything twice again
  • Get the grades you hope for
  • 100% sure, 100% understanding
Remember faster, study better. Scientifically proven.
Trustpilot Logo