What is 'Constructivism' in IR theory and how is it different than realism and liberalism.

Non of liberal, realist, neoliberal or neorealist can explain the end of cold war. After the end of USSR in 1991, then all of sudden, the two cooperate, not because of capability BUT because of perception. The meaning they attached to the other changed. It’s systematic structure/ anarchy change as well. There are only theory in IR that state anarchy is constructed, so it’s a subject to be change. Anarchy came from process of interaction. Social Constructivism is a major critique of major establish theories. That the 2 are fought it out between themselves. It’s how IR was conduct but Social Constructivism said you miss the center point, assuming one rational point without social norm

Constructivism is the claim that significant aspects of international relations are historically and socially constructed, rather than inevitable consequences of human nature or other essential characteristics of world politics.

They believed that IR marked by interaction not by structure, as interaction shaped structure or Meaning arise out of interaction. New meaning emerged out of the action not structure. The interaction between state that two interaction create reality. Contrast to rational choice theory, it reject social fact (realist) : a fix component of a system but for Social Constructivism : it’s not a social fact but an interaction with others. Subjective constitution of identity; how we project ourself upon others. Norm can be dismissed. Power politic seem to be override it. for Social Constructivism, norm can be subjective e.g gender inequality, human rights but in history, it’s not there before.

(Alexander wendt)

Wendt, one of the core social constructivist scholars which he argued that Process is more important because identities and process are center to understand behavior. Which are socially constructed, same as anarchy. Self-help and power politics exist (not due to anarchy-structure) but due to process. state act toward other state on the basis of perception. You act differently base on friend and foe. With our strong allies, lead to our perception change, our identity change so we assigned to thing around us. Even there are no authority but this can make change to whole behavior. State act not base on but on perception. Anarchy doesn’t need to lead to state conflict or cooperate.

E.g we enter the classroom, it doesn’t force us to do one thing but our action does.

As a result, Action toward objects base on meaning that the objects have for them not rational. Anarchy is there to tell us who are friend or enemy. NOT how do we chose who to be enemy. It’s up to the object.

E.g Cuba nuclear is more dangerous than in Canada.

He replace balance of power (structural) to balance of threats (perception, social construction). IT’s about how we see someone, not what someone really is, not real capability. It’s all about social constructed, self-perception.

This mean that international institution are also constructed usually an attempt to codified in formal rules and norms. But they do not exist apart from actor’s ideas. Institutional changes of identities and interests of states (once constituted, social system reinforces certain behaviors and discourages others among its members. Systemic change may also be inhibited by actor’s interests in maintaining relative stable role identities. desire to minimize uncertain/anxiety (you want to know where and other stand, don’t want to react in a wrong way and avoid the expectation cost of breaking commitments made to others. But norm can be subjective e.g gender inequality, human rights but in history, it’s not there before.

Social Constructivism dismiss the idea of human nature in IR. Giving important to identity. Identity(awareness of ourself) are central feature of social interaction BUT our identity also shaped by interaction. (e.g. one in group dominated so the group adopt his norm to act = became a group identity when it’s interact with others.). Constructivism, we act base on perception, meaning which is not giving but socially constructed base on self perception. not fix by human nature, the structure BUT it’s complicated because it’s subjective, no law, objective.

Interest and preference are also construct not objective goal like neoliberal (cooperation) or neorealist (survival). Identity are basis of interests; interest are shaped by social context/ Process. Interest is routine qualities assigning meaning on the basis of institutionally defined roles.

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