lecture 4 Flashcards
What are the groundin concepts for constructivism?
- It critiques neorealism and (neo)liberalism’s.
- Individualist and materialist view of interests and states’ ability to pursue them
- A Core claim that social forces (e.g. ideas, norms, culture, rules, practices) influence identities, and therefore interests, and behaviour
- Integrates (rather than replaces) the ‘logic of
consequences’ with the ‘logic of appropriateness’ ( A will result in B) - Does not deny ‘reality’ but highlights that it is socially constructed and not purely a product of objective or material factors. > E.G: Usa Thought of nukes with north-korea is different then those of France
Why are rules and norms significant?
- The significance of rules and norms demostrated by efforts of states to construct them in their desired form (E.G UN genocide Convention)
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Further demonstrated by debates on interpretation of rules and norms.
-Most significantly demonstrated by states abiding by rules and norms that go against their material
interests
What are constructivist Critiques of IR Theory?
Critical constructivism critiques conventional constructivism for
reproducing basic principles of Neorealism and Liberalism
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- Anarchy’s effects are not automatic but rather understood through cultural and ideational lenses; “Anarchy is what states make of it” (Wendt 1992)
- Different cultures of anarchy can exist, operating under different rules of engagement, interaction logics and systemic tendencies.
- Intersubjective meanings emerge from social acts, made up of signalling, interpreting and responding, which in turn can foster
different dynamics between individuals, within groups and across systems
What are the three constructivist forms of anarchy?
- Hobbesian
- Lockean
- Kantian
What is a Hobbesian anarchy system?
The realist way, everyone is an enemy, no way of conecting with each other
What is a Lockean anachry system?
actors can get on slighlty better terms with each other, cooperation is possbil, but not self-evident
What is a Kantian anarchy system?
Actors are not hostille and friendship is possible
What is the critical constructivist view of identitiy
Actors are and have an identity on there own, this is also known as the european view
What is Wendt’s (1992) view of identity?
Groups/actors can’t have a idenity when they haven’t interacted with other groups
How do constructivist view international institutions?
As actors in IR, rather than just a ‘tool’ or a ‘stage’. International institutions have their own identity.
International institutions derive authority from
rational-legal authority, ‘depoliticised’ status, and ability to gather and disseminate information
-International institutions exert influence by classifying actors and actions, fixing meanings in the social world, and diffusing norms
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This automous influence isn’t always a good thing
- Autonomous influence is not always positive, as ‘pathologies’ can emerge (Barnett and Finnemore
1999)
What are the three stages of norms?
Stage 1 = norm emergence
Stage 2= “ norm cascade” it gets accepted
Stage 3= Internalization
How is the world order created according by structivists?
World order is created and sustained by changing (shared) understandings of what constitutes acceptable, legitimate and appropriate behaviour.
How do constructivist view norms?
Norms are a “set of standards for the appropriate behaviour of states”
Norms are also “Collective expectations for the proper behaviour of actors with a given identity”
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E.G: “ We are USA, we value Freedom, fuck yea!”
“ We are France we value Wine”
What are the four essentiel parts for a norm, according by structivists.
- Identity
- behaviour,
- propriety
- Colletive expectattions
What are the two forms of norms?
- Regulative norms
- Collective norms
