Constructivism Flashcards
1) What is the definition of Socialisation
2) what levels of socialisation are there
Agents switch from following a logic of consequence to a logic of appropriateness.
This means that agents will learn a role - acquiring the knowledge that enables them to act in accordance with expectations. This doesn’t matter whether they like the role or not.
Type 11 socialisation: Agents go beyond the role and accept it is the right thing to do.
How do the other schools view socialisation
Neo Realist: States compelled my self-help and balances emulate the most successful actors.
Neo-Liberals: Not mentioned I research program
English school: Plays a more important role where states have the ability to socialise. Not much work on how it occurs or the end point.
What three mechanisms does Checkel use to link institutions to socialisation.
Strategic Calculation, role playing, normative suasion
Explain the Strategic Calculation Mechanism
This is were behaviour initially based on utility maximisation based around the calculation of reward and punishment last become sustained compliance.
Compliance is key to this change. Intergovernmental reinforcement is where transnational institutions offers the targeted government a reward under the condition it applies with the institutions norms.
Checkal argue that this explanation is ill-equipped to explain type one and type two socialisation.
Explain the mechanism of role playing
Agent rationality is constrained, they can’t calculate every avenue. Group environments provide cues and buffers that lead to the enactment of specific roles.
When the role playing has begun it is the start of socialisation. there is the movement to non-calculation adaption. They do roles because they are appropriate, this is type 1.
States take on roles because it is easier socially. These role may later become taken for granted habits.
This differs from Suasion because there is a non-reflective element. The actor in question will argue that its just habit.
Under what conditions will internalisation occur for the role play mechanism
- A long contract
- Conact is Intense
- Agents with previous policy making experience are more likely to internalise supranational role conceptions.
What is the mechanism of normative suasion
Agents present an argument and try to convince each other, preferences are open to persuasion.
Agents engage in change of preferences, this is different to the role play mechanism.
This leads to type 11.
Under what conditions to suasion lead to type 11?
1) The target is in a new environment and is open to processing new information.
2) few prior ingrained beliefs
3) The in group socialiser is influential
4) the in-group socialiser does not demand but acts out principles.
5) The interaction is a de-politicized environment.
- What is a norm?
2. How does it develop political theory?
- a standard of behaviour from a actor with a given identity.
- It links the idea of “what ought” to be in the world and “what is”
What is the normalise cycle
- Norm Emergence , 2. norm cascade, 3. Internalisation
Describe Stage one of the Life Cycle. (norm emergence)
Norms are start with an individual who believes the world should work in a certain way.
e.g. the Swiss banker Henry Dunant had an experience in the battle of selfrino in 1859 the lead to the creation of the Red Cross and the first signing of the Geneva convention, stating medical staff and injured should be treated as non combatants.
They create frames, which then resonate with the wider public.
Dunant had to convince commanders not to treat medical personnel and spoils of war, to be treated not as spoils of war.
They have to pursue that their objective is sensible.
Red Cross had to persuade that it was in the generals interest to not hurt medics.
For the the norm to go to the next stage, it must be institutionalised in international rules and organisations.
Once a critical mass of institutions or agents have accepted the norm it reaches its tipping point.
What are norm organisations
norm entrepreneurs need norm organisations as a platform.
IO’s are a modern form of norm organisations. They use their expertise to change actors views and behaviours. . These expertise usually reside in professionals.
Peter Haas study the cleanup of the Mediterranean shows that ecologist were able to convince governments to engine in the cleanup program and to staff those spots with likeminded ecologists.
Discuss norm cascades
After the tipping point is reached more countries rapidly take on the norm without pushing from domestic social change.
The case of “Contagion occurs” in which international and transnational norm influencers because more important than domestic politics.
This norm cascade comes through the mechanism of socialisation. Enough critical states endorse the new norm to redefine appropriate behaviour. (see role play and norm suasion)
Claude - “IO’s are the custodians of the international seal of approval and disapproval”
Social norms ar perpetuated by peoples need to be part of a group. Esteem is related to both conformity and legitimacy. Social norms are held by feeling of embarrassment, guilt. e.ge states want to follow the norms of liberal states, because being a liberal state is what they’re proud of.
What is internalisation
Norms become so widespread that they become taken for granted. This means that norms can be extremely powerful and hard to discern. Such norms as sovereignty and individualism have been explained by scholars.
Professionals are key to this process. They do more than transfer technical knowledge, they tech people to value things about others.
Which norms matter under what conditions
Legitimation - States might enforce norms during times of domestic turmoil. if states want to enhance self esteem.
Prominence - The quality of the norm itself, or the quality if the state promoting the norm.
