Global theory is standardly seen as a recent development, which goes in a different direction from the state and the state-centred theory of the 19th Century philosopher, Hegel. This essay challenges that assumption. It reads Hegel as a threorist who conceives of the nation state as playing the major role in politics, but in an international context that accepts the reality of other states. The state itself is seen as requiring international recohgnition by other states. Moreover Hegel sees states as emerhing in a global historical context. Hence Hegel is to be seen as a theorist who respects the international and global historical setting of states.