International Relations Today, IR 101 Episode 3: Constructivism

Summary

In this video, Sebastian explores constructivism, an influential International Relations (IR) theory emphasizing the significance of identities and social practices. He explains how constructivism emerged as a response to the inadequacies of realism and liberalism, particularly in explaining the end of the Cold War. By highlighting the social construction of anarchy, Sebastian discusses how states' relationships—characterized as amity or enmity—affect their behavior. The video further distinguishes between conventional and critical constructivism, emphasizing the importance of ideas, identities, and norms in shaping international dynamics. Ultimately, constructivism offers a unique lens to understand global interactions beyond mere material considerations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Constructivism is an International Relations (IR) theory focused on the role of identities and social practices in the international system.
• 📚 The term 'constructivism' was coined by Nicholas Onuf in 1989, gaining prominence after the Cold War.
• 🌍 Unlike realism and liberalism, constructivism views international politics as a social construct that can change over time.
• 💡 Constructivism emphasizes that state identities shape their interests and behaviors, contrary to the materialist perspectives of realism and liberalism.
• 🔍 Alexander Wendt's idea that 'anarchy is what states make of it' illustrates how states interpret the international system based on their relationships and identities.
• 🤝 Constructivism identifies two types of relationships between states: Amity (friendly) and Enmity (hostile), which influence their interactions.
• 🛠️ There are two main branches of constructivism: conventional constructivism, which asks 'what' questions about state actions, and critical constructivism, which asks 'how' questions regarding the formation of identities.
• 🗣️ Critical constructivists focus on language, discourse, and communication in shaping state identities and are more cautious about truth claims and power dynamics.
• 🌐 A significant example is that the U.S. perceives British nuclear weapons as less threatening than North Korean ones, highlighting the importance of context in international relations.
• 🚀 Constructivism provides a distinct lens for analyzing international affairs, revealing that ideas, identities, and norms are crucial in understanding state behavior beyond mere material power.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of constructivism in international relations?

Constructivism primarily focuses on the role of identities and social practices in shaping state behavior within the international system.

Who coined the term 'constructivism' and when?

The term 'constructivism' was coined by American scholar Nicholas Onuf in 1989.

How did constructivism emerge as a response to other IR theories?

Constructivism emerged after the end of the Cold War, as realism and liberalism were unable to adequately explain or predict its conclusion.

What does constructivism argue about the nature of international politics?

Constructivism argues that international politics is a social construct that is not fixed, meaning it can evolve and change over time based on social interactions and meanings.

How does constructivism differ from realism and liberalism in its view of states?

Unlike realism and liberalism, which view states as rational egoist actors focused on material interests, constructivism emphasizes that states' identities and the meanings they assign to their actions shape their interests and behaviors.

What is the significance of Alexander Wendt's statement about anarchy?

Wendt's statement 'anarchy is what states make of it' highlights that the anarchic structure of the international system is interpreted and constructed by states based on their interactions and identities, not merely as a given condition.

What are the two types of relationships between states according to constructivism?

According to constructivism, states can have relationships of amity (friendship) or enmity (hostility), which influence their interactions and responses to each other.

What distinguishes conventional constructivism from critical constructivism?

Conventional constructivism focuses on 'what' questions related to state actions and identities, while critical constructivism emphasizes 'how' identities are formed through language, discourse, and communication.

What example does Wendt use to illustrate constructivism in real-life politics?

Wendt uses the example of nuclear weapons, arguing that 500 British nuclear weapons are perceived as less threatening to the US than five North Korean weapons due to the different meanings attributed to these states and their relationships.

Why is constructivism considered important in the study of international relations?

Constructivism is important because it provides alternative explanations for state behavior and highlights the impact of ideas, identities, and norms, which realism and liberalism often overlook.