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

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.