1. Social Constructivism

2. Introduction Social Constructivist – Last of the four major theories in IR Born when the Cold War died Gaining momentum and popularity – Defined Studies how ideas and social movements impact and change international relations Studies International Structure – Structure is some thing that exist independently of an actor (ie. Class structure), but is an important determinant in the actions of the actor (ie. Class Revolution) » Shapes identities, interest, and foreign/domestic polices of states » How states and non-states shape and reshape world

3. What is a Social Theory? Social Constructivism – Substantive Theory Offers specific claims and hypotheses about patterns in world politics – Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, etc… » Offers absolute/precise analysis and evaluations – Not Constructivism – Social Theory Broadly concerned with how to conceptualize the relationship between agents and structures – Constructivism » Offers overall interpretations of existing system – Not Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, etc…

4. Core Elements Idealism – Holds that ideas have important causal effect on events in international politics, and that ideas can change Social consciousness = fundamental feature of society People = shaped by ideas = knowledge, symbols, language and rules. Meaning and construction of material reality is dependent on ideas and interpretations Holism – Structures cannot be broken down to the individual units, and the interactions between the individual parts, because structures are more than the sum of their parts and, as a result, cannot be reduced

5. Main Constructivist Tenets Social Construction of Reality – Actors are produced and created by their cultural environment – Indicates how knowledge, symbols, rules, concepts, etc… shapes how individuals construct and interpret their world Social Facts – Things whose existence is dependent on human agreement Existence defines shapes how we categorize the world and what we do – Money, treaties, human rights, laws, etc… – Opposite Brute Facts = exist independent of human agreement and will continue to exist even if humans disappear or deny their existence Oceans, gravity, the sun, a rock, etc…

6. Continue Logic of Consequences – Attributes action to the anticipated costs and benefits, mindful that other actors are doing just the same Realism, Marxism, Liberalism, etc… Logic of Appropriateness – Highlights how actors are rule-following, worrying about whether their actions are legitimate Constructivism Meaning – Value actors place on their action and the objects they construct

7. Continue Culture – Provides the meaning that people give their action Society (international and domestic) is diverse, then there are multiple meanings that can be interpreted by an action – Politics Today = liberals vs. conservatives or state and non- state actors Power – Adds to traditional definition of power Forces of power go beyond material (economic or military), can be ideational (forming/entertaining Ideas) – Legitimacy = sought by states = more legitimate an action the more international approval received » States alter action to receive legitimacy

8. Continue – Knowledge is Power How knowledge, the fixing of meanings, and the construction of identities allocate different rewards and capacities Reject Unity of Science Thesis – Methods of studying the natural world are not appropriate for understanding the social world Humans reflect on their experience and use these experiences to change their behavior, the natural world does not

9. Continue Causality and Explanation – Insist that structures can have a causal impact because they make possible (or limit) certain kinds of behavior and thus generate certain tendencies in the international system

10. Rational Choice Social Theory that offers a framework for understanding how actors operate with fixed preferences which they attempt to maximize under a set of constraints – Conflicts with SC, Demonstrates not all social theories are similar Treats interest as fixed, SC treats as constructed by environment and interactions Favors Logic of consequences, SC favors logic of appropriateness SC studies normative structure and RC focuses on strategic behavior

11. Global Change Social Constructivism – Useful in explaining global change – Non-Social Theories have difficult time explaining change because of their fixed absolute interpretations of world affairs Homogenization of World Politics – Is there a World Order? Diffusion – How particular models, practices, norms, strategies, or beliefs spread within a population (domestic or international)

12. Continue – Two important diffusion issues Institutional Isomorphism = Why diffusion takes place » Those organizations that the same environment will, over time, resemble each other » Diversity yields to conformity and convergence around a single model – International System » Composed of Nation States Democracy and Free Market dominate IS Globalization creating liberal democracies Assimilation because states want acceptance, legitimacy, and status Institutions and norms promote liberal democracies Many States only look like liberal democracies to gain benefits of IS (viewed as modern world), though in practice they are not

13. Continue How do states diffuse? – Coercion » Forced to do so by a stronger power Iraq (military) or Cuba (economic) – Strategic Competition » If they don’t diffuse they will not receive the benefits of modern society Technologies, weapons, health care, etc… – Why does coercion or competition take place? » Doing so will bring them needed resources Being part of the modern “club” will open resources to a state Countries outside the “Club” will have a hard time convincing the IS to give up needed resources

14. Continue – Countries are likely to adopt those models that are seen as successful or legitimate » Especially in times of uncertainty War, famine, drought, climate change, etc… » Especially if the model is symbolic Nuclear proliferation in Iran or North Korea – Professional associations and expert communities diffuse organizational models » Have established techniques, codes of conduct, methodologies, norms, institutions, ect… within their area of expertise » Communicate established practices to professionals within field, as a result diffusion takes place Globalization of professional organizations » Use professional networks to diffuse information Institutions, collaboration, journals, etc…

15. Continue Diffusion and Norms – Diffusion leads to international recognized norms = Internationalization of norms Provide world with established standards of behavior – States follow norms because of sense of community or fear of retribution – Life Cycle of Norms Norm emergence – Norm promoted by group or issues and adopted by state Norm Cascade – Norm crusaders socialize to other states through coercions or competition Norm Internationalization – accepted by all an no longer debated in IS

16. Continue Three consequences of Institutional Isomorphism and Internationalization of Norms – Diversity has slowly yielded to conformity Not al conformity is altruistic – Deepening sense of an International Community Globalization and advancement in technology – Replacing Anarchy as boarders become obsolete – Socialization States/societies take on identities and interest of dominate peer group – Diffusion Flow = First to Third World