What is constructivism in IR theory?

In international relations, constructivism is a social theory that asserts that significant aspects of international relations are shaped by ideational factors (which are historically and socially constructed), not simply material factors.

What are the key principles of constructivism in IR?

Constructivists argue that states can have multiple identities that are socially constructed through interaction with other actors. Identities are representations of an actor’s understanding of who they are, which in turn signals their interests.

Is IR theory western centric?

In short, IR is too Western centric. It should therefore come as no surprise that many critical IR scholars have called for “broadening” the theoretical horizon of IR beyond “the current West-centrism” (Buzan 2016: 155).

When did constructivism emerge in IR?

1990s
Introduction. Constructivist theory emerged in the mid-1990s as a serious challenge to the dominant realist and liberal theoretical paradigms.

What is Western centric perspective?

Eurocentrism (also Eurocentricity or Western-centrism) is a worldview that is centered on Western civilization or a biased view that favors it over non-Western civilizations.

What are mainstream IR theories?

The mainstream IR theory, which has been the dominant academic discourse and research agenda, is represented by three theories in the United States, namely, Waltz’s structural realism ( 1979), Keohane’s neoliberal institutionalism ( 1984), and Wendt’s structural constructivism ( 1999).

What is political constructivism?

Political Constructivism is a method for producing and defending principles of justice and legitimacy. It is most closely associated with John Rawls’ technique of subjecting our deliberations about justice to certain hypothetical constraints.

Are Western IR concepts and theories problematic when applied in African contexts?

It has become rather commonplace to read that, what is referred to as ‘traditional, western IR theory’, is problematic when taken to the African continent. At best, we are told, IR theory misrepresents or misunderstands African reality, at worst it participates in an exercise of neo-colonial theoretical hegemony.

What does Eurocentric perspective mean?

: centered on Europe or the Europeans especially : reflecting a tendency to interpret the world in terms of European or Anglo-American values and experiences.

What are the two main types of constructivism?

Two major types of the constructivist learning perspectives are cognitive constructivism and social constructivism.

What are the assumptions of constructivism in international relations?

The term Constructivism was adopted by Nicholas Onuf in 1989 and introduced as “people and societies construct or constitute each other”. the main assumption of constructivists is that the fundamental structures of international politics are social and these structures shape actors’ identities and interests.

Can realism and constructivism be aligned in IR theory?

It has been argued that progress in IR theory will be achieved when Realism and Constructivism can be aligned or even synthesized. An early example of such synthesis was Jennifer Sterling-Folker’s analysis of the United States’ international monetary policy following the Bretton Woods system.

What is constructivism in international relations?

Constructivism’s arrival in IR is often associated with the end of the Cold War, an event that the traditional theories such as realism and liberalism failed to account for. This failure can be linked to some of their core tenets, such as the conviction that states are self-interested…

What is a critical constructivist approach?

Instead, critical constructivists want to reconstruct an identity – that is, find out what are its component parts – which they believe are created through written or spoken communication among and between peoples. Language plays a key role for critical constructivists because it constructs, and has the ability to change, social reality.

Where can I find a good introduction to constructivism?

For the simplest explanation of constructivism, see Snyder 2004, which provides brief summaries of realism, liberalism, and constructivism and compares and contrasts them for the reader. Snyder’s article is the easiest article to understand in this section.