Broadening the Horizons of the “International” by Historicizing it: Comparative Historical Analysis

Abstract

This article intends to analyze the use of comparative historical analysis (CHA)in the discipline of International Relations (IR). After describing the historicalevolution and fundamental premises of CHA, the article continues with theclassification of CHA. Then the strengths and weaknesses of the method as wellas its utilization by various theories of IR are discussed. The second part of thearticle deals with the employment of CHA by the author of this article in his ownresearch design, in order to give an idea that how CHA might contribute to abetter understanding of the “international”. In doing that, the advantages anddisadvantages of the method are revisited in a way to show the contributionsprovided as well as the difficulties encountered in practice. The article concludesthat CHA might contribute to the study of IR by enhancing interdisciplinaryapproaches and by adding a socio-historical depth to the ‘international’, whichhelps to overcome historicism and presentism at the same time.