Plan for Today:Plan for Today:ConstructivismConstructivism

1.1. Midterm exam format. Midterm exam format.

2.2. Continuing introduction to Continuing introduction to constructivism: what kinds of constructivism: what kinds of arguments about norms/ arguments about norms/ identities?identities?

3.3. Detailed example: Wendt’s Detailed example: Wendt’s constructivist interpretation of constructivist interpretation of anarchy.anarchy.

Midterm Exam FormatMidterm Exam Format 2 sections2 sections Total: 30 points.Total: 30 points. Section 1Section 1: short-paragraph answer on a : short-paragraph answer on a

concept.concept. Answer 1 out of 3. (10 points – 15 minutes)Answer 1 out of 3. (10 points – 15 minutes)

Section 2Section 2: essay question.: essay question. Answer 1 out of 3. (20 points – 30 minutes)Answer 1 out of 3. (20 points – 30 minutes) Comparing two viewpoints on a topic (two Comparing two viewpoints on a topic (two

authors or two sides of an argument).authors or two sides of an argument).

Midterm Exam FormatMidterm Exam Format Example essay question:Example essay question:

o Contemporary theorists of the Contemporary theorists of the democratic peace share certain democratic peace share certain ideas with the work of Immanuel ideas with the work of Immanuel Kant, but in other respects differ Kant, but in other respects differ from his vision of the perpetual from his vision of the perpetual peace. What ideas do they share, peace. What ideas do they share, and where do they part ways with and where do they part ways with Kant’s theory?Kant’s theory?

ConstructivismConstructivism

Logic of Consequences vs. Logic of Consequences vs. Logic of AppropriatenessLogic of Appropriateness

(March & Olsen)(March & Olsen) Two potential logics of action in any Two potential logics of action in any

social environment: social environment: 1.1. Logic of consequencesLogic of consequences: political action : political action

from rational calculation by actors to from rational calculation by actors to maximize preferences. maximize preferences.

Interests Interests choices choices outcomes. outcomes.2.2. Logic of appropriatenessLogic of appropriateness: political action : political action

from norms and identities suggesting from norms and identities suggesting appropriateappropriate action in given situation. action in given situation.

Identities & norms Identities & norms choices choices outcomes outcomes further identity shift.further identity shift.

Logic of Consequences vs. Logic of Consequences vs. Logic of AppropriatenessLogic of Appropriateness

Two potential logics of action in any Two potential logics of action in any social environment: social environment:

1.1. Logic of consequencesLogic of consequences: political action : political action from rational calculation by actors to from rational calculation by actors to maximize preferences. maximize preferences.

((Realism, Neoliberalism, DecisionmakingRealism, Neoliberalism, Decisionmaking)) Interests Interests choices choices outcomes. outcomes.

2.2. Logic of appropriatenessLogic of appropriateness: political action : political action from norms and identities suggesting from norms and identities suggesting appropriateappropriate action in given situation. action in given situation. ((ConstructivismConstructivism))

Identities + norms Identities + norms choices choices outcomes outcomes further identity shift.further identity shift.

Constructivist Logic – Constructivist Logic – Norms/ Identities as Norms/ Identities as Dependent VariableDependent Variable

• E.g. Finnemore on how and why E.g. Finnemore on how and why norms of humanitarian intervention norms of humanitarian intervention have changed.have changed.

Pre-20th century: intervention involved Pre-20th century: intervention involved protection of Christians from Ottoman Turks.protection of Christians from Ottoman Turks.

20th century: humanity becomes 20th century: humanity becomes universalized.universalized.

Post-1945: virtually all instances of Post-1945: virtually all instances of intervention involve protecting non-Christians intervention involve protecting non-Christians and/or non-Europeans.and/or non-Europeans.

Constructivist Logic – Constructivist Logic – Norms/ Identities as Norms/ Identities as Independent VariableIndependent Variable

1.1. Different international systems Different international systems identities and norms identities and norms different different behaviour by actors (behaviour by actors (systemic-systemic-level argumentlevel argument):):

Contemporary sovereign states system Contemporary sovereign states system vs. Nomadic tribal system vs. Feudal vs. Nomadic tribal system vs. Feudal systemsystem

People living under different systems People living under different systems have differing ideas about appropriate have differing ideas about appropriate behaviour.behaviour.

Constructivist Logic – Constructivist Logic – Norms/ Identities as Norms/ Identities as Independent VariableIndependent Variable

2.2. Domestic politics arguments about Domestic politics arguments about states’ identities (states’ identities (unit-level unit-level argumentargument):):

E.g. E.g. KatzensteinKatzenstein on terrorism on terrorism policies:policies:

GermanyGermany: rule of law : rule of law pass new, tough pass new, tough laws.laws.

JapanJapan: rule by consensus : rule by consensus teach citizens teach citizens that terrorism morally wrong and anti-that terrorism morally wrong and anti-Japanese.Japanese.

Alexander WendtAlexander WendtExample of a Systemic-Level Example of a Systemic-Level

ArgumentArgument Q: How does the condition of Q: How does the condition of

anarchy necessarily define the anarchy necessarily define the identities of the actors in the identities of the actors in the system? system?

Wendt: self-help isn’t automatic.Wendt: self-help isn’t automatic. If correct, realism may be wrong If correct, realism may be wrong

about competition and conflict as about competition and conflict as natural. natural.

Alexander WendtAlexander WendtExample of a Systemic-Level Example of a Systemic-Level

ArgumentArgument Wendt tries to demonstrate that:Wendt tries to demonstrate that:

1.1. Self-help not a constitutive property of Self-help not a constitutive property of anarchy; and anarchy; and

2.2. Self-help and competitive power Self-help and competitive power politics may be created through politics may be created through practice over time. practice over time.

Alexander WendtAlexander WendtExample of a Systemic-Level Example of a Systemic-Level

ArgumentArgument Continuum of potential security Continuum of potential security

systems under anarchy:systems under anarchy:

“Competitive” “Cooperative”“Individualistic”

Alexander WendtAlexander WendtExample of a Systemic-Level Example of a Systemic-Level

ArgumentArgument Wendt agrees current system is Wendt agrees current system is

self-help and difficult to change self-help and difficult to change because:because:

1.1. Once created, system exists Once created, system exists objectively and rewards competition, objectively and rewards competition, punishes altruism. punishes altruism.

2.2. Actors want to maintain stable Actors want to maintain stable identities once created to avoid costs identities once created to avoid costs of change and uncertainty.of change and uncertainty.