Theorizing Catholicism in International Relations: An English School Framework

This article draws attention to a trend in International Relations (IR) discourse that analyzes aspects of Catholicism through an English School lens. It argues that IR analyzes of aspects of Catholicism should or could be more productively theorized through a two-fold English School framework: (a) religious ideas, customs, and practices underpinning international society; and (b) the preference of the Catholic Church in pluralism versus solidarism English School debates. This framework can, arguably, be used as a tool for future IR investigation of aspects of Catholicism to better understand the influence of Catholic actors in international society.