Yurdusev argued for the existence of a distinct school and outlined basic premises as follows:

1) concern for history, historical explanation and classical works

2) international relations being an orderly realm

3) the view of the whole

4) the adherence to a via media (middle way) approach, in other words, precaution and refrain from the extremes

5) the significance of and emphasis upon cultural/ civilizational factors in international relations

6) the volitional/voluntaristic conceptualization of international society/system against mechanical/ structural conception

7) a broad historical perspective and the use of historical parallels to current problems (rejection of presentism)

8) avoidance of scientific jargon.