Introduction to
International Relations
Social Constructivism
Jaechun Kim
(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
game…Why?
that
liberalists
were
losing
the
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)..
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…
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
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…
(2) 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!
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…
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!
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)…
Positivists vs. Post-Positivists
(Or Rationalists vs. Reflectivists)
Positivists
Search for positive theories…
Scientific (positivisitic) epistemology…
Objective truth about social life…
Find explanations… causal mechanism
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?
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)
Lenin on Imperialism
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…
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
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).