Constructivism Flashcards
Background of Constructivism
realism and liberalism unable to explain the end to the Cold war in the 90s
Basics
States construct images of reality and anarchy and respond accordingly
intersubjective definitions may result security dilemma or collective security dependant on the meaning given to the relationship between countries
action and ideas creating a circular relationship
Social constructivism- social discourse constructing the meaning we ascribe to certain things and the development of ideas, for example 911.
Alexander Wendt
500 British nuclear weapons less threatening than 5 North Korean nuclear weapons
amity and enmity a function of shared understanding
Nicholas Onuf
world of our making
states behaviour construct the international system
previous actions construct current ideas, constructs future behaviour
The structure of the international system according to constructivists
shared knowledge: security dilemma(enemies viewing their relationship in anticipation of attack) collective security
Material resources are only given meaning to by human actors
states respond to actual TBC
Anarchy in the international system according to constructivists
what States do to each other affects the structure of their shared knowledge
when states militarise
TBC…….
summary of constructivists assumptions and arguments
The international system is not defined by material capabilities like realists say but by meaning given to material capabilities and the behaviour of actors
World politics is individually and socially constructed
Case study of kids in a house
if you leave children in a
Critique of constructivism
how, when and why does shared knowledge change?
constructivists are good at describing change, but they are weak on the material and institutional circumstances necessary to support the emergence of new values and ideas.
