Constructivism Flashcards
Constructivism
Gained prominence after cold war, which realism and liberalism failed to explain
–Liberalism and realism say that states self-interested orders. Competing for power and neglect individual agency
Emphasizes that
sacred world is created through actions and interactions of actors(leaders, citizens)
Reality and knowledge are socially constructed
→ 500 British nuclear weapons are less threatening to the USA than 5 North Korean nuclear weapons, cuz of shared meanings and not material capabilities
Structures influence actors
and actors reshape structures
States have
multiple Identity shaped through interactions with others. Actions must align with identity or identity validity is questioned.
Social norms are
standards of appropriate behavior for actions with specific identities.
Regulative norms
constrain behavior (laws)
Constitutive norms
create new actors, interests
Prescriptive norms
promote behaviors that are good
Conventional constructivists ask
“what” questions, causes of actions. Focus on casual relationships between actors, norms and identities
Critical constructivists ask
“how” questions. Focus on constructing identities and emphasize languages role in shaping social reality
Established itself as a framework in IR by…
Addressing phenomena that liberalism or realism have struggled to explain
Provides a…
Dynamic approach by arguing that international system is socially constructed, shaped by ideas, identities and norms that actors create through interaction
Challenges…
Materialistic assumptions of traditional theories
Reality is shaped by…
Ideas and beliefs
Wendt
“Anarchy is what states make out of it”
Anarchy is interpreted…
Differently by states with shared understandings
500 British nuclear weapons are less of a threat than 5 North Korean nuclear weapons because of social relationships
Structures…
Shaped the behaviors of actors, and actors have capacity to shape structures through their actions and interactions
States identity…
Shapes its interests
Norms go through a…
Life-cycle
Emergence
Acceptance
Internalization
4th Great Debate sees…
Constructivism positioned between rationalism and post structuralism.
Rationalism - fixed state interest, debate happened if facts support it
Constructivism- debate is socially constructed and depends on understanding within IR community
Post Structuralism - questions the very premise of the debate, rejecting notions of objectivity
Enriched IR by…
Offering nuanced understanding of the role of ideas, identities and norms shaping international politics
Challenges static assumptions…
Of liberalism and realism, highlighting the dynamic and socially constructed nature of global interpretations
