The Big Picture as an Approach to the Study of International Relations

A statement on the value of adopting a macro perspective on international relations based on the work of Barry Buzan.

A leading group of scholars debate the 'big picture' approach in an engagement with renowned scholar Barry Buzan. An essential book for readers who are interested in the overall trajectory of the international relations discipline and its development over the coming decades.Barry Buzan is one of Europe's most prolific scholars of international relations, renowned for his interdisciplinary collaborations and commitment to making complex ideas accessible. This volume features a detailed analysis of his practiced 'big picture' approach and its value to the international relations discipline, as well as related social science disciplines. It starts with an explication of the intellectual project of Barry Buzan over his long career, the development of his thinking in relation to the big picture, and the style of research he engages in. The contributors then use this as a stepping stone to reflect on the broader value of the big picture approach, taking their point of departure in five scholarly fields: international relations theory, the English School, world history, international security studies and international political economy. In a concluding chapter, Barry Buzan reflects on the undertaking and the path forward.