Chapter 4 - Constructivism

Question 1

Positivism

Answer 1

Reality is something that exists outside of us that can be observed and quantified
Hard time accounting for ideas and identity

Question 2

Social Ontology

Answer 2

An inter-subjective, collective experience

Things constructivists focus on

Question 3

Alexander Wendt

Answer 3

Brought Constructivism to the mainstream

Anarchy is what states make of it

Question 4

Three Focuses of Social Ontology

Answer 4

1. Ideational structures (meanings we ascribe)
2. Doesn’t offer prescriptions
3. How do we know what we know? What are the origins? What is the trajectory (based on inter-subjectivity)?

Question 5

Constructivism in relation to Mainstream IR

Answer 5

Doesn’t challenge them, just offers alternative understandings

Question 6

Ethics of Constructivism

Answer 6

1. Agnostic - just explains
2. Criticized for focusing too much on ‘good’ constructions
3. Norms entrepreneurs often studied

Question 7

Norm Tipping Point

Answer 7

Expectations shift from how we make people do this to people having to defend themselves for not doing it.

Question 8

Constructivist Norm Narrative

Answer 8

First, there is an objective reality that helps (in part) form our ideas, but from then on, how we inter-subjectively understand it is based on interaction etc., and then ideas take on a much larger role.

Question 9

Power of Constructions

Answer 9

Things based in ideas as opposed to reality are almost just as hard to break because of how cemented they are in our understandings of ourselves, others, the world.

Question 10

Can material reality take us back down if things need to change?

Answer 10

Idk. Consider this for the final, come up with an example.

Question 11

Divisions within constructivists

Answer 11

usually based on how much material reality should be emphasized versus ideas

Question 12

Three Questions from Applied Constructivism

Answer 12

1. Of rivalry and war making
2. Of the role of institutionalization
3. Of how identities, interests, and practices change.
   (Do they reinforce or undermine?)

Question 13

Social Ontology v Positivist Ontology

Answer 13

We experience our life through our social interactions and ideas more so than an objective reality.

Question 14

Inter-subjectivity

Answer 14

Shared meaning between people.
Changes over time.
Ex.: Sovereignty has changed from monarch, to nation-state, to R2P because of Bosnia and Rwanda

Question 15

Three Focuses for Applied Constructivism

Answer 15

1. Identities
   - As identities change, so do interests, they are co-constitutive
2. Interests
   - What’s good for us and why? Purely rational understandings fail to understand identities, history, context.
3. Practices - the first two manifest into practices.

Question 16

Applied Constructivism and Self-Help

Answer 16

Why do we have this system? Can we unmake a conflictual system?
One must consider shared knowledge, identities, interests, and embedded practices/structures.

Question 17

4 Essentials of Constructivism

Answer 17

1. Belief in the social construction of reality/important social facts
2. Focus on ideational and material structures/norms and rules
3. A focus on the role of identity in shaping political action / practice
4. A belief in mutual constitutiveness of agents and structure (and of identities/interests)

Question 18

Constructivism Meets FP

Answer 18

1. NATO’s role post Cold War
   - Keep member-states safe, maintain identity, engage in transforming practices
2. Since 1989, NATO has followed constructivist FP
   - effective change through normative power