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The Historical Sociology of Space and Time: A critique of globalization theory

Petersson, Markus LU (2011) SIMT07 20111
Department of Political Science
Master of Science in Global Studies
Graduate School
Abstract (Swedish)
Through an historical sociological investigation of space and time, globalization theory is found to be based in a faulty understanding of history. Globalization theory argue that a spatio-temporal shift has occurred which has transformed social reality from a territorialist Westphalian system to post-territorialism. Such an understanding is proven problematic as the historical basis for the Westphalian system is shaky at best. Realist conceptions of territory, authority and sovereignty are anything but timeless principles of the international system. Different modes of organizing space have always contained both a territorial and post-territorial tension. In a word then, historical development has been both uneven and combined. This paper... (More)
Through an historical sociological investigation of space and time, globalization theory is found to be based in a faulty understanding of history. Globalization theory argue that a spatio-temporal shift has occurred which has transformed social reality from a territorialist Westphalian system to post-territorialism. Such an understanding is proven problematic as the historical basis for the Westphalian system is shaky at best. Realist conceptions of territory, authority and sovereignty are anything but timeless principles of the international system. Different modes of organizing space have always contained both a territorial and post-territorial tension. In a word then, historical development has been both uneven and combined. This paper demonstrate the need for more historically and sociologically informed international relations research, as many of the historical understandings of the concepts we use are faulty and based in a decidedly realist, Eurocentric logic. Instead of traditional International Relations theory, this paper employs a constructivist historical sociological theoretical framework based in an understanding of space and time centered on polities rather than states, on uneven and combined development, rather than eurocentrism. Form such a perspective the contemporary global system is not the result of a transformative shift in time and space. The shift in time and space is the result, not the cause, nor is the shift anywhere as fundamental as globalization theory claim. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Petersson, Markus LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMT07 20111
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
globalization, eurocentrism, historical sociology, time and space, world history
language
English
id
1967057
date added to LUP
2011-07-06 08:09:42
date last changed
2014-06-16 14:35:41
@misc{1967057,
  abstract     = {{Through an historical sociological investigation of space and time, globalization theory is found to be based in a faulty understanding of history. Globalization theory argue that a spatio-temporal shift has occurred which has transformed social reality from a territorialist Westphalian system to post-territorialism. Such an understanding is proven problematic as the historical basis for the Westphalian system is shaky at best. Realist conceptions of territory, authority and sovereignty are anything but timeless principles of the international system. Different modes of organizing space have always contained both a territorial and post-territorial tension. In a word then, historical development has been both uneven and combined. This paper demonstrate the need for more historically and sociologically informed international relations research, as many of the historical understandings of the concepts we use are faulty and based in a decidedly realist, Eurocentric logic. Instead of traditional International Relations theory, this paper employs a constructivist historical sociological theoretical framework based in an understanding of space and time centered on polities rather than states, on uneven and combined development, rather than eurocentrism. Form such a perspective the contemporary global system is not the result of a transformative shift in time and space. The shift in time and space is the result, not the cause, nor is the shift anywhere as fundamental as globalization theory claim.}},
  author       = {{Petersson, Markus}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Historical Sociology of Space and Time: A critique of globalization theory}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}