What is the Use of International History?

The significance of history for the study of today's international relations has often been underestimated. The point of departure of this article is that historical studies of international affairs, in order to be relevant in a broader societal context, must relate to crucial issues for the survival of our civilization. The basic idea is that historical knowledge should be able to contribute to the making of a better world, a more peaceful world without violence and war. An emancipatory stance like this is essential if we are to show the urgency of studying international relations. In this respect, historical research has a great deal to learn from peace research. Having adopted a political stance in favour of peace, we can use history or historical methods in at least six different ways to increase our understanding of today's international affairs: ascertaining facts per se, focusing on the long lines of development, studying history as a cultural construction, looking for causes, explaining the establishment of historical phenomena and developing theories. Using these approaches, historical science has the potential to illuminate aspects of today's international situation where other disciplines lack the necessary analytical tools. At this critical juncture of world history, in particular in the aftermath of the Cold War, the first three approaches are considered most relevant. Finally, it is maintained that historians in the field of international relations have to initiate a debate concerning central issues or syntheses in world politics to point to the relevance of the historical dimension.