the point of critical international theory's various sociological analyses is to illuminate how alrcady existing social struggles might lead to deci of global political life. This rmatious in the normativc bases sive transfo has prompted Linklater(2002a) uo underrakc what he calls a"sociology of states systerns', More spocifically, Linklater wishes to compare states systems across timc the basis of how they deal with harm. What kinds of harm are generated in particular states-systems, and to what cxtent are rules and norms against harm built into these states systems? Linklater's initial research suggests that the modem statcs-system may bc unique in its development of cosmopolitan Harm conventions that omestic jurisdiction of ffect of croding the states and have the e promoting moral duties(linklater 2001). However, the civilizing gains made by the modern states-system m be under threat by developments since September 11. Though there are different responses to the terrorist attacks perpetrated l-Qaeda. Linklater is concerned that the dominant rhetoric of a civilizational war against evil would unleash'de-civilizing' potentials. The US-led w ar on tcrrorism', by privileging military means, putting more innocent lives at