1. Social Constructivism
Introduction to
International Relations
Social Constructivism
Jaechun Kim

2. (SOCIAL) CONSTRUCTIVISM
Relatively a new approach in the field of IR despite its preeminence in psychology and sociology…
But social constructivism has become one of the major theories (or paradigms) of IR in recent years…
Constructivism is not Liberalism… !
Alexander Wendt and Constructivism
A. Wendt, “Anarchy is What States Make of It” 1992
Why did he write this article?
Neo-Neo Debate…
Wendt thought that liberalists were losing the game…Why?

3. Because NL uses realist assumptions… rationalist assumptions…
NL assumes that states’ preferences are exogenous…
Wendt abandons rationalist assumption – assumption that states’ identities are given (exogenous; fixed)
Either by human nature (classical realism – first level realism)
or international system (neorealism – third level realism)..

4. State identities and interests are not given (exogenously), rather they are constructed socially (social interaction)… hence social constructivism..
Self-regarding identities  other-regarding identities…
Neoliberalists  institutions affect behavior of states, but they do not change states’ identities or interests… they only constrain behaviour in strategic sense, but they do not constitute it!
Constructivists – institutions not only constrain behaviour but also constitute it… they can change identities and preferences…

5. Two important claims of Constructivists
(1) interests and identities do change… and they are socially constructed! They are not givens! They are not exogenous!
Ideational structure of International Relations
(2) Anarchy (as defined by Neorealists) is not the most important structural characteristic of intl system…Neo’s conception of structures is too limited! They only focus on material forces…
The key structures of the int’l system are intersubjective or social (rather than material)! The way we interact (and think) constitute an important structure as well!

6. Neorealists and Neoliberals’ conception of structure is too limited
they only focus on material factors!
Structure is a malleable entity… agents can shape the structure!
Self-help and Security Dilemma and Power Politics are not essential feature of anarchy…
They are the result of our interaction based on self-help and power politics! Our practices made that way!!
(Physical) structure has no causal power apart from processes and interaction…
They – self-help and power politics – are social institutions (our intersubjective understanding or norms) created by our action…

7. Therefore “Anarchy (as structure) is what states make of it!”
Self-help and power politics are the result of our interaction (or practices) based on power politics and self help!
If states’ practices change then so will the structure...so will our understanding of structure…!!!
Therefore “Anarchy (as structure) is what states make of it!”
How anarchy is understood among the agents (states) is very important!
Institutions can not only constrain states’ behaviors but also constitute them!

8. To sum up..
Neos tend to focus on material factors; constructivist emphasizes the impact of ideas…(or social interaction… processes…practices… )
Instead of taking the states’ preferences for granted and assuming that states simply seek to survive or maximize their interests, constructivists regard the interests and identities of states as a highly malleable product of specific historical processes (and discourses)…

9. Positivists vs. Post-Positivists (Or Rationalists vs. Reflectivists)
Search for positive theories…
Scientific (positivisitic) epistemology…
Objective truth about social life…
Find explanations… causal mechanism

10. Post-Positivists
Denounce positivistic epistemology…
No objective truth about social life..
All the social theories are value-laden  Normative theories…
Post-modernism
Feminist theory of IR
Critical theory
Social constructivism as a bridge between positivism and post-positivism?

11. MARXISM
3 laws
Law of disproportionality – Labor creates surplus values, K doesn’t
Law of diminishing return – As K accumulates, the rate of return will decline
Capitalist states need to expand so survive
Tenets
Class is the most important actor (State is simply an agent of K class)
Economics determines politics (cf. realism)

12. Lenin on Imperialism 4steps Modern world system is imperialistic
Valdimir Lenin, Imperialism, the Highest State of Capitalism (1916)
Modern capitalism is the highest stage of capitalism – key characteristic of it is imperialism! But this is transitory in nature. Because it will collapse!
4steps
K will build up, return for K diminishes. Underconsumption at home forces K to expand abroad…

13. Marxism after Marx K need to expand to export surplus of K abroad.
Flag follows money and soldiers follow the flag! K states carve out peripheries..
K states will confront each other over shrinking peripheries. e.g. Iraq.
Marxism after Marx
Dependency theory and
Modern World Systems Theory
 two progenies

14. Essay Questions for Next Week
1. What are the defining elements of international regime? How do they differ from international organization? Does neoliberal institutionalists’ approach provide an adequate explanation for the role of international regimes? If so, why? If not, do you think constructivist theory of regime can be an alternative?
2. Would it be possible for international organizations (both IGOs and NGOs) to exercise independent influence in world politics? Discuss avenues through which IOs can affect states’ behaviour and identities (or preferences).