Table of Contents
Constructivism
Introduction
Constructivism is a major approach to International Relations that emphasizes the importance of ideas, identities, norms, beliefs and social interaction in shaping international politics.
Constructivists argue that international reality is not determined solely by material capabilities. The meanings that states and societies attach to power, interests, threats and institutions also matter.
Core Concepts
Constructivism: An approach to International Relations emphasizing the social construction of international reality through ideas, identities, norms and interaction.
Social Construction: The process through which shared ideas, meanings and practices shape social and political realities.
Identity: A socially constructed understanding of who an actor is and how it relates to others.
Norm: A shared expectation concerning appropriate behaviour.
Ideas: Beliefs, concepts and understandings that shape how actors interpret political reality.
Beliefs: Shared or individual understandings about political conditions and appropriate action.
Culture: Shared values, practices, symbols and meanings that influence political behaviour.
Material vs Social Factors
Constructivists do not necessarily deny the importance of military or economic capabilities.
Instead, they emphasize that material resources acquire political meaning through social interpretation.
For example, the military capabilities of an ally may be interpreted differently from similar capabilities possessed by an adversary.
Thus:
Material capabilities + shared meanings + identities + interaction = political significance
Anarchy and Constructivism
Constructivists challenge the idea that anarchy has one fixed meaning or automatically produces a particular pattern of state behaviour.
A famous constructivist proposition associated with Alexander Wendt is that “anarchy is what states make of it.”
The broader idea is that the consequences of anarchy depend partly on how states understand one another and interact.
Identity
National Identity: A state’s understanding of itself as a particular political and social community.
State Identity: The socially constructed understanding a state has of its role and characteristics in international affairs.
Role Identity: The expectations associated with the role an actor believes it should perform.
Collective Identity: A shared identity developed through interaction among actors.
Identity can influence:
- National interests
- Threat perceptions
- Alliances
- Foreign policy
- International cooperation
- Conflict
- Diplomatic behaviour
Norms
International Norm: A shared expectation concerning appropriate behaviour in international society.
Norm Creation: The emergence and development of expectations about appropriate conduct.
Norm Diffusion: The spread of norms across states and societies.
Norm Internalization: The process through which a norm becomes deeply accepted and routinely followed.
Norm Contestation: Disagreement over the meaning, legitimacy or application of a norm.
Norm Entrepreneur: An actor seeking to promote or establish a particular norm.
Socialization
International Socialization: The process through which states and other actors learn, adopt or modify norms and practices through interaction.
Social Learning: Changes in behaviour or understanding resulting from interaction and experience.
Peer Pressure: Influence arising from expectations or reactions within a group of states or institutions.
Interests
Constructivism challenges the assumption that national interests are always fixed.
Constructed Interests: Interests shaped by identity, ideas, norms, historical experiences and social interaction.
States may therefore change their interests when their identities, beliefs or understandings change.
Constructivism and Change
Constructivist approaches are particularly useful for explaining changes that material theories may have difficulty explaining.
Examples include:
- Changing understandings of sovereignty
- Development of human rights norms
- Changes in the legitimacy of colonialism
- Changes in attitudes toward slavery
- Evolution of international environmental norms
- Changing meanings of nuclear weapons
- Emergence of new international identities
Major Constructivist Thinkers
Alexander Wendt: A leading constructivist scholar known for work on identity, interests and international anarchy.
Nicholas Onuf: Associated with the development of constructivist approaches in International Relations.
Martha Finnemore: Known for research on international organizations, norms and state behaviour.
Peter Katzenstein: Known for work on culture, norms and national security.
Constructivism and International Institutions
Constructivists examine institutions not only as mechanisms for cooperation but also as environments that shape identities, expectations and norms.
International organizations can therefore influence how states understand:
- Appropriate behaviour
- Legitimacy
- Security
- Sovereignty
- Human rights
- Development
- International responsibility
Key Distinctions
Constructivism vs Realism: Realism emphasizes material power and security; constructivism emphasizes ideas, identities and norms alongside material factors.
Constructivism vs Liberalism: Liberalism emphasizes cooperation and institutions; constructivism focuses particularly on how identities, ideas and norms shape interests and institutions.
Norm vs Law: A norm is a shared expectation of appropriate behaviour; a legal rule has formal legal status.
Identity vs Interest: Identity concerns how an actor understands who it is; interest concerns what it seeks to achieve.
Social Construction vs Fiction: Socially constructed realities can have real political consequences even though they depend on shared meanings and practices.
Key Terms at a Glance
Constructivism | Social Construction | Identity | State Identity | Collective Identity | Role Identity | Norm | International Norm | Norm Diffusion | Norm Internalization | Norm Contestation | Norm Entrepreneur | Socialization | Social Learning | Ideas | Beliefs | Culture | Constructed Interests
Related Glossaries
International Relations Theories | International Norms and Institutions | International Society and World Order | International Cooperation | Foreign Policy | Global Governance