ABSTRACT
In the previous four chapters we have considered the work of a selection of contemporary historical sociologists. Although involved in different areas of research, a central link between these four writers is that they have all attempted to incorporate the idea of an international system in their writings. All four have argued that an international system has had an impact on domestic events and developments. However, each has put forward a different account. Our discussion in each of the four chapters suggested that, with the exception of Wallerstein, the notion of international system being used by each of these writers is under-theorised. A key component linking the first three writers considered has been the analysis of the state. Skocpol, Tilly and Mann all have a similar idea of the state. Wallerstein, the fourth writer discussed, had a much weaker notion of state, but a much more definite notion of a (world-)system.
