Constructivism Social Theory of International Politics...

Constructivism Alexander Wendt in his work entitled Social Theory of International Politics (1999) explain the basic propositions of constructivism, arguing that â€Å"structures of human association are determined primarily by shared ideas rather than material forces; thus, identities and interests of purposive actors are constructed by these shared ideas rather than given by nature† (Palan, 2000, p. 576). As such, these shared ideas construct identities and interests. In this regard, Wendt supports Thucydides who explains how language and convention form identities and enable power to be translated into influence (Lebow 2001, 547). As a result, this means that the cultures of anarchy depends on â€Å"how [actors] construe their identity in†¦show more content†¦Risks are not seen as realities lying outside of society and culture, but as integration of meanings, logics and beliefs. Lupton describes this well when she states that â€Å"a risk is not a static, objective phenomenon , but is constantly constructed and negotiated as part of the network of social interaction and the formation of meaning† (Lupton, 1999). It is worthy to note the work of sociologist, Mary Douglas, who in her ideas of purity and contamination argues that ideas serve to set up cultural boundaries, â€Å"between individual bodies, between social groups within a community and between communities† (Lupton, 1999). There are things (e.g. different religions) that are perceived to be contaminating or polluting, and they are dangerous as they pose a threat to social order. These things are culturally specific, and used to create and maintain ideas about self and ‘Other’. Lupton points out further that in Douglas’ later writings on risk and culture, Douglas argues that the concept of risk is used by contemporary societies to maintain cultural boundaries. Lupton (1999) also discusses Douglas’s explanation of how risk acts primarily as â€Å"a locus of blame†. This means that the groups or institutions, that are considered to be risky, are viewed as dangerous or to be the source of danger. A risky ‘Other’ is seen to pose a threat to the integrity or wellbeing of an individual or his community or society. In dealing with this ‘Other’, DouglasShow MoreRelatedSocial Constructivism And Its Impact On International Relations2442 Words   |  10 PagesSocial constructivism emerged in the mid-1990s, after the end of Cold War. Although it has been seen as a young theory in International Relations, it has challenged the two dominant theories – realism and liberalism. It also provided new theoretical openings to understand the International Relations. Social constructivists tried to establish a â€Å"middle ground† between rationalism and poststructuralism. Unlike realism, social constructivism claims that material capabilities of states, such asRead MoreThe Best Case For Constructivism2765 Words   |  12 PagesMake the best case for constructivism as an epistemology in international relations. Discuss at least one constructivist w ork that you believe makes an outstanding contribution. Introduction When discussing constructivism as an epistemology in international relations (IR), it is important to note that there are many definitions, or rather, forms of constructivism in social sciences, especially when it pertains to international relations. Within the field of IR there are many constructivist scholarsRead MoreRussian Intelligence Operatives : A Personal Assessment Of The Relative Utility Of Each Theory1722 Words   |  7 Pagescase, how can Russia’s actions be explained? International relations has several theories which attempt to explain the international political world and why states or actors behave the way that they do. 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WithRead MoreThe Effects Of Nuclear Weapon Development On Iran1290 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Many international relations theorists have speculated about the effects of nuclear weapon development; while some argue that weapons of mass destruction promote peace, others believe that humanity should not have the capability to cause so much destruction. This debate has been renewed by the Iran Nuclear Deal, which involves western states placing sanctions on Iran to diminish Iran’s nuclear program. I argue that, while constructivist and liberal paradigms may hold some validity,Read MoreThe World Of Modern Politics1847 Words   |  8 Pagesthe world of modern politics there are International organizations that focus of world trade to world healthcare to smaller organizations and can comprise of small countries to the world’s power house countries like Russia and the United states. These international organizations play a very large role in the global politics scale and to help understand their impact, different theories were created to help describe their overall i mpact on the global scale. Four of the main theories as are NeorealismRead MoreWhat Is Power And What Forms Can It Shape? International Relations? Essay1672 Words   |  7 Pagesanother. Moreover, power in international society has never been disturbed equally. Therefore, what is power and what forms can it shape to affect international relations? The three political theories of realism, marxism and social constructivism define power in association with the taxonomy principles of concepts. Therefore, it is the purpose of this essay to examine the taxonomy principle that form the corresponding concepts of power with the appropriate political theory, along with providing an analyticalRead MoreFeminism and Constructivism: A Comparison2645 Words   |  11 PagesThe discipline of international relations (IR) is one that has witnessed a multitude of variations and shifts. It has produced a fair amount of debate between academics within the international relations scholarship. Due to a p lethora of circumstances scholars have subjected the traditional rationalist theories of neorealism and neoliberalism to critical re-evaluations. As a result, constructivism is a concept that has emerged as an alternative approach to dominant IR theories. It focuses on theRead More A Constructivist View of North Korean Nuclear Proliferation1995 Words   |  8 Pagesthis proliferation have failed. However, it is important to understand why the United States took such active steps to stop proliferation. From a neo-realist perspective, the key force driving American foreign policy is military power. In the international state of anarchy, there are no rules governing how states act. In this scenario, power is zero sum and any attempt by one state to gain power limits the power of every other state. Therefore, when a state like North Korea attempts to build nuclearRead MorePakistan And The Nuclear Bomb : Motivations Exposed Through A Constructivist Lens1681 Words   |  7 Pagesplayer in a system of international anarchy – which is to say there is no entity superior to the state. Additionally, each state will seek to maximize its own self-interests vis-à  -vis its military and non-military political capabilities in order to ensure state survival and continuity of the governing regime. Body As Alexander Wendt said, â€Å"anarchy is what states make of it†. In order to demonstrate why Pakistan’s pursuit of becoming a nuclear weapon state is constructivism, it is vital to understand