Insight from historical sociology promotes a re-thinking of international relations theory in this collection of essays. The volume's editors draw together many strands of thought to set out in detail an approach and research agenda that revolve around what the editors call 'world sociology'.

Part I. Introduction: 1. What's at stake in 'bringing historical sociology back into international relations?' John M. Hobson; 2. Historical sociology: back to the future of international relations? Stephen Hobden; Part II. Historical Sociologies of International Relations: 3. The two waves of Weberian historical sociology in international relations John M. Hobson; 4. Neo-Weberian historical sociology and the question of epochal transformations Randall Collins; 5. Globality and historical sociology: state, revolution and war revisited Martin Shaw; 6. Historical sociology and constructivism: an estranged past, a federated future? Michael Barnett; 7. The idea of history and history with ideas Christian Reus-Smit; 8. World system analysis, historical sociology and international relations: the difference a hyphen makes Barry K. Gills; 9. Towards a critical sociology of transnational harm Andrew Linklater; 10. International systems in world history: remaking the study of international relations Barry Buzan and Richard Little; Part III. Conclusion: The Future of Historical Sociology in International Relations: 11. Historical sociology and international relations theory Steve Smith; 12. For an international sociology Fred Halliday; 13. On the road toward a historicised conception of international sociology John M. Hobson and Stephen Hobden.