Benchmark dates

Benchmark dates are years or events used to mark key turning points in the history of international relations. As such, they are related to what scholars consider to be the core dynamics of international relations and are frequently mentioned within academic debate. They are also central to how the subject is taught. Tied to the renewed interest in history within the discipline, the historical narratives surrounding key benchmark dates such as 1648 and 1919 have been subject to much debate. The debate also extends to the theoretical role of benchmark dates themselves. As scholarly constructs, benchmark dates centre some processes and sideline others, and they reinforce particular theoretical notions of change and stasis within the discipline.