Book contents
- Systems, Relations, and the Structures of International Societies
- Cambridge Studies in International Relations
- Systems, Relations, and the Structures of International Societies
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Systems, Relations, Levels, and Explanations
- Part II Waltzian Structural Theory
- Part III Systems, Relations, and Processes
- Part III (A) Differentiation and Continuous (Trans)Formation
- 10 Relations, Processes, and Systems
- 11 Multiple Dimensions of Differentiation in Assembled International Systems
- 12 Continuous (Trans)formation
- 13 Life Sciences and Social Sciences
- Part III (B) Four Excursions in Relational/Systemic IR
- References
- Index
- Cambridge Studies in International Relations
10 - Relations, Processes, and Systems
Configuring Configurations That Configure
from Part III (A) - Differentiation and Continuous (Trans)Formation
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 October 2023
- Systems, Relations, and the Structures of International Societies
- Cambridge Studies in International Relations
- Systems, Relations, and the Structures of International Societies
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Acknowledgments
- Part I Systems, Relations, Levels, and Explanations
- Part II Waltzian Structural Theory
- Part III Systems, Relations, and Processes
- Part III (A) Differentiation and Continuous (Trans)Formation
- 10 Relations, Processes, and Systems
- 11 Multiple Dimensions of Differentiation in Assembled International Systems
- 12 Continuous (Trans)formation
- 13 Life Sciences and Social Sciences
- Part III (B) Four Excursions in Relational/Systemic IR
- References
- Index
- Cambridge Studies in International Relations
Summary
The remaining chapters of this book begin to sketch a new systemic/relational perspective and illustrate some of its implications and attractions. Like systems approaches, relational approaches in contemporary IR, which employ frames such as networks, fields, practices, and assemblages, stress the arrangement of parts of wholes. A systems perspective, however, highlights a tendency among relationalists to overemphasize relations and underemphasize processes. (The frame “relationalism” draw attention away from processes and usually leaves obscure how relations and processes are related.) I argue for a systemic/relational perspective that understands social systems as configuring configurations that configure. And I argue that these hierarchically layered assemblages can best be understood through relational processual explanations.
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- Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023