REALIT Y CHECK:

CONSTRUCTIVISM AND
I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E L AT I O N S
 CONSTRUCTIVISM

The focus of social constructivism is on human awareness or consciousness and its place in the
world affairs.
MATERIALISTS – focuses on how the distribution of material power
a. defines balances of power between states
b. explains the behavior of states

Constructivists reject such one-sided material focus. They argue that the most important aspect
of international relations is social, not material.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM

Example:
INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM SOLAR SYSTEM

It is a human invention or creation not of a physical or material kind but of a purely

intellectual and ideational kind. It is a set of ideas, a body of thought, a system of
norms, which has been arranged by certain people at a particular time and place.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM

KEY POINT:

Constructivist are not arguing that reality is an illusion, rather, they are arguing that the reality
that surrounds us is not merely a product of purely objective or material forces, but is essentially
a product of our shaped perceptions, values, ideas and understanding.

Constructivists argue that there is a mutually constitutive (interactive relationship) between

structures and actors referred to as structuration.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM

Another example:
STATES INTERSTATE SYSTEM

If states and the interstate system are made by the people, moreover, they can be changed
and developed in new ways.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY

What does it mean to say that constructivism is a social theory?

It means that social theory is the more general theory about the social world, about social
action, and about the relationship between structures and actors.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY
KEY POINTS (and SOME REPETITION)

SOCIAL THEORY tells us that the social world (that is the world defined by politics, economic,
history, culture, institutions..) is not defined by nature, but by human beings.

What do we mean by this?

It tells us that, as a world defined by human beings, it is inherently a world based on human
consciousness: of thoughts and beliefs, of ideas and concepts, of languages and discourses, of norms
and practices, of perceptions and misperceptions.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY
KEY POINTS (and SOME REPETITIONS)

At the same time, social theory tells us the social world is in part constructed of physical
entities, but it is the ideas and beliefs concerning those entities that are most important.

In other words, physical elements are secondary to the intellectual element which infuses it
with meaning, plans it, organizes it and guides it.
CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY

What does this physical entity represent or mean?

 CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY

KEY POINT:

As a physical object, a gun’s “meaning” is dependent on our interpretation.

(physical elements are secondary to the intellectual element which infuses it with meaning,
plans it, organizes it and guides it.)
 CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY
KEY POINTS (and SOME REPETITONS)

Constructivism as a social theory rests on an ideational view

The core ideational element upon which constructivists focus is intersubjective beliefs (ideas,
conceptions and assumptions) that are widely shared among people. Ideas must be widely
shared to matter; nonetheless they can be held by different groups, such as organizations,
policymakers, social groups or society.
 CONSTRUCTIVISM AS A SOCIAL
THEORY
FOUR TYPES OF IDEAS
1. IDEOLOGIES
a systematic set of doctrines or beliefs.
II. NORMATIVE (or PRINCIPLED) BELIEFS
beliefs about right and wrong; values and standards of behavior or conduct.
III. CASUAL BELIEFS
beliefs about cause-effect relationship.
IV. POLICY PRECRIPTIONS
specific programmatic ideas that facilitate policymaking by specifying how to solve a particular problem.
 CONSTRUCTIVIST THEORIES OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Constructivism as a social theory operates at a high level of abstraction: it tells about

international relations.

Constructivist theories of international relations focus specifically to better understand

or explain the substance of international relations.
 CONSTRUCTIVIST THEORIES OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Alexander Wendt
One of the most well known IR constructivist that challenged the neorealist by asserting,
“anarchy is what states make of it.” (1992)

What do you think he means?

 CONSTRUCTIVIST THEORIES OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
KEY POINT

Anarchy is a social construction. It is not inherently dangerous, unstable, or scary; instead, it

becomes so only when states interpret it as such
However, it is not just interpretation that matters, but also interaction with others that create
and instantiate one structure of identities and interests rather than another; structure has no
existence or casual power apart from process.
The fundamental nature of international relations – the significance of anarchy – is
determined by the prevailing interpretation and the degree of internalization.
 ACTIVITY

Why do we need to study constructivism to better understand the concept of International

Relations?

Discuss your answer in not more that 10 sentences.