Between Theory and History: The Remains of The Day in the International Relations Classroom

Students in international relations classes are often confused about the nature of the relationship between theory and history in the discipline, and their confusions can lead to severe distortions in the pictures of international relations which they take from their courses. The use of Kazuo Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day" to introduce students to a key historical period and a number of complex theoretical issues is examined.