Beyond Diplomatic History: French School in the Historiography of International Relations

Abstract

French historian Pierre Renouvin, in the works he published after the First World War, opened new paths in the historiography of international relations. In his studies of diplomatic events, Renouvin takes into account a manifold of factors, including social, economic, and cultural factors. Other historians, such as Jean-Baptiste Duroselle and Rene Girault, developed a similar perspective under the influence of Renouvin: The "French School of International Relations" attempted at developing a non-State-centric approach to the international relations, however, the state level has still a predominant role in their analyses. Regarding their methodology, they adopt an approach that departs from the particular level, and reaches the partial and general levels of explanation:The French School consciously avoids any future projection. The present article aims to seek to what extent the paradigms developed by Renouviris and his followers' reflect the the methodological differences between the disciplines of history and political science-international relations.