The English School and the Emergence of International Society
English School theorizing is particularly relevant for understanding why and under what circumstances actors choose to contribute to coordinated international actions. English School theory has both a rich history and a nuanced understanding of the international environment that allows it to comprehend the emergence of complex systems like global health governance as an institution within international society. This chapter describes the foundations of the English School and highlights its usefulness for understanding the expansion and resilience of global health governance. At the same time, this chapter expands upon the English School, pushing it to address the role of non-state actors within international society and incorporate political economy into its theorizing. While this institution has emerged, it does not always operate in an optimal fashion, nor does it obviate the fact that states may sometimes act in selfish ways.