SocialConstructivism

Nattawut Thammanukornsri

ทฤษฎีสรางความรูนิยมเชิงสังคม

Education Material Only

Book Info Name : Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches

Author : Robert Jackson Georg Sørensen

Chapter 8 :

ISBN-10: 0199694745 | ISBN-13: 978-0199694747 | Edition: 4

Introduction: it’s idea not material

Focus:is on human awareness or consciousness and its place in world affairs

Reject material claim:The international system is constituted by ideas, not by material forces. Thus, IR is about

social reality and human consciousness.

Idea change, system change:When the idea in the international relations

change, the system would also change, because the system consist of thought and

idea.

International system as invention:The international system is a set of idea, a set of norms, which has been arranged by certain

people at the particular time and place. It’s human invention.

Idea and belief matter:The study focuses on the idea and beliefs that inform the actors on the international scene as

well as the shared understanding between them.

Back to origin

Sociologist & Structuration: Anthony GiddensConstructivists were inspired by philosophy and sociology. In sociology, Anthony Giddens proposed the

concept of structuration as a way of analyzing the relationship between structure and actors. The structure (rules and conditions that guide social action) do not determine what actors do in any mechanical way.

Structures do constrain actors, but actors can also transform structure by thinking about them and acting on them in new way.

We make the history: Giambattista VicoGiambattista Vico suggested that men and women make their own history. They also make states that are

historical construct. If they want to change, they can change it and development into new ways.

Back to origin (2)

Knowledge is subjective: Immanuel KantImmanuel Kant argued that when we obtain knowledge, we always be subject as it filtered through

human consciousness.

Understanding & Meaning: Max WeberMax Weber suggested that human being rely on ‘understanding’ of each other’s actions and assigning

‘meaning’ to them. In order to understand it, we can’t describe it as physical phenomenon. The subjective understanding is the specific characteristic of sociological knowledge.

The Social theory: Social World

Structure and ActorsSocial theory is the more general theory about theory the social world, about the social action and

about relation between structure and actors.

World of ideaIn social world is not a given. The social world is a world of human consciousness: of thoughts and

beliefs, of ideas and concepts, of language and discourses.

Neither rule nor objective scienceThere are no natural laws of society or economics or politics. That mean those things can’t be

objective ‘science’ as the view of positivist. The social world is in part constructed of physical entities. In that sense materialism is a part of constructivism.

Materialistic view VS. Ideational view

Materialistic viewAccording to the materialist view, power and national interest are the driving forces in international

politics. Power and interest are seen as ‘material’ factor; they are objective identities.

Ideational viewIn the ideational view held by social constructivists ideas always matter. Idea thus define the

meaning of material power. The study focuses on intersubjective belief (as idea / conception / assumption) which widely shared among people.

Four types of ideas

IdeologyIdeologies or shared idea are a systematic set of doctrine or belief that

reflect and aspiration of a group, class, culture, state.

Normative beliefsNormative beliefs are beliefs about right and wrong.

Causal beliefsCausal beliefs are beliefs about cause effect, or means-end relationships.

Policy prescriptionsPolicy prescriptions are the specific programmatic ideas that facilitate

policymaking by specifying how to solve particular policy problem.

Constructivist into IR

Culture of anarchy is createdBoth constructivist and neorealist agree that state want to be survive and secure. Constructivist

Alexander Wendt rejects the neorealist position of anarchy necessarily leading to self-help. That can’t be decided a priori; it depends on the interaction between states. In the process of interaction the

identities and interest of state are created. Thus, there’s ‘the culture of anarchy’ which can be change in each period of time.

European CaseWendt brings the case study of West Europe states that form their new ‘European

identity’ and it ends the need for balancing power against each other.

Constructivist to IR (2)

Norm of international society: Martha FinnemoreMartha Finnemore suggests that the norm of international society affect state identities and interests. State behavior is defined by identity and interest. The norms of international society are transmitted into state through international organizations. And then they shape national policy by teaching state

what their interests should be.

Behavior of state & socialization: Alistair JohnstonAlistair Johnston also suggests that international system change the behavior of state as processes

of social learning take place in the interaction of policymakers from different states.

Constructivist to IR (3)

Power of International Organization: Barnett & FinnemoreBarnett and Finnemore’s analysis makes the argument that IOs are autonomous actors who might

exercise power in their own right; on the other hand, they ‘construct the social world in which cooperation and choice takes place. They help define the interests that states and other actors come to hold’. The institutional power of IOs base on their ability to guide behavior in more indirect ways. IOs also contribute to solving problem by offering solutions and convincing others to accept them.

Domestic Formation of identity & norm: Peter Katzenstein argues that the internal marke-up of states affects their international behavior. The

approach is employed to explain the shift in Japanese foreign policy from militaristic to pacifists.

SocialConstructivism

Nattawut Thammanukornsri

ทฤษฎีสรางความรูนิยมเชิงสังคม

Education Material Only