The English School: a new triad

Barry Buzan’s reformulation of the English School marked one of the most important developments in international relations (IR) theory over the past 15 years. Buzan sought to scientifically reconstruct the English School creating a return to grand theory. This article is a critical investigation of Buzan’s reformulation, aiming to discover whether the English School lost or gained as a result. If the School gained, we are presented with an explanatory grand theory that can explain IR throughout time. If the School lost, we may have to return to the approach of the classical English School characterised by Martin Wight and Hedley Bull, or to the post-classical approach of James Der Derian. This article will present a new English School triad employing Buzan’s, the classical and post-classical English School.