歷史社會學的國家理論發展，是一九七○年代與國際關係理論相會後逐漸發展的，共分成三波。第一波是重返國家理論，目的是將國家帶回理論研究，主張國家具有處於國際與國內的雙面性，特別是戰爭或危機發生時，會有強的國家自主性和職能性。第二波是多型態的國家理論，分析國家與社會的內部關係，理解國家權力的制度性來源，並認為競爭的國際體系是有助於民族國家和現代國家的興起。第三波則是複合的國家理論，批判重返國家理論為現實主義式的化約理論，認為國家同時具有國內與國外的自主性，無論戰爭或危機是否出現，國家在與社會的互動和滲透中，產生了國家的自主性。透過這三波歷史社會學的國家理論，豐富了國家理論的內涵，並提供國際關係理論更廣的思考。

From the 1970s, theories of the state in historical sociology arose from encounters with theories of international relations. Here we have three distinct waves of development. The first is the theory of “bringing the state back in.” It argues the state has both international and domestic sides, and that the autonomy and capacity of the state are stronger specifically under conditions of war or crisis. The second is the theory of the “polymorphous state”. It analyzes internal relations between state and society, and understands state power from institutional sources. In addition, the theory of the “polymorphous state” explains how the competitive international system promoted the rise of the modern nation state. The third is the theory of the “complex state”. It criticizes the theory of “bringing the state back in” for realist reductionism. According to this theory, the state’s autonomy comes from interactiveness and mutual infiltration between state and society. The state has both international and domestic autonomy simultaneously, regardless of whether there is a situation of war or crisis. In short, these three waves of theories in historical sociology enrich our knowledge of the state, and provide more space to think about international relations theory.