The social construction of Swedish neutrality: Challenges to Swedish identity and sovereignty. Focusing on these elements of normative dynamics led to progress in how constructivists understood conformance with normative strictures, the spread of existing norms, and the emergence of new norms. Similarly, treating social norms as static independent variables led to calls for constructivists to define the conditions under which normative and nonnormative influences on behavior are likely to be the most important in determining behavior (Legro and Kowert 1996; Risse et al. Comprised of a series of conventions that go back to 1864, it is now a part of customary international law, so it applies to all states during warfare. Beyond fueling critiques of constructivism, treating norms as static entities made it difficult for constructivists to explain normative change (ironic for an approach that rose to prominence with its critique of other theories inability to explain change). Introduction: Ideational AlliesPsychology, Constructivism, and International Relations . Risse (2000:6) captured the essence of the internal critique when he noted that the logic of appropriateness actually encompasses two different modes of social action and interaction. In one mode, appropriate actions are internalized and become thoughtlessly enacted at times as a precursor to or foundation of strategic behavior (Risse 2000:6) actors reasoning through social norms. Rebuttals to constructivist arguments used evidence of behavior that was inconsistent with the specific and unchanging strictures of norms in question to claim that nonconstructivist (usually material or rational) factors must be the driving catalyst of political behavior and outcomes (Shannon 2000). For decades, the theory of International Relations was dominated by two approaches: realism and liberalism. Rationalist critiques relate to constructivist methodology and epistemological claims. For constructivists, a focus on identity makes it possible to consider more deeply how domestic factors, ideas, discourses, cultures, and norms shape the interests of states and the choices states make. After all, these were Cold War institutions whose purpose was now over with the end of superpower politics. The norms-oriented work that followed this initial burst of activity in the 2000s built upon the success that was achieved, but also changed the trajectory of research on social norms in world politics to include broader notions of norm dynamics. American Political Science Review, 95(3), 547560. Constructivism is an International Relations (IR) theory. Some scholars have sought a way through or out of the logic of appropriateness/logic of consequences debate by following March and Olsens (1998) suggestions about scrutinizing the relationship between the logics, especially possible temporal sequencing of the logics, theorizing that sometimes actors calculate optimal material courses and at others they reason about their normative/identity obligations (Shannon 2000; Nielson, Tierney, and Weaver 2006; see Muller 2004 for a caution on this synthesis strategy). European Journal of International Relations, 3(3), 319363. Cooperation and Conflict, 54(1), 2543. Finally, the third theory of international relations, known as Constructivism, focuses on ideas, shared beliefs and identity as the main drivers of success. Tactical constructivism, method, and international relations. This has implications for the concept of anarchy, the agent-structure relationship, and national interests, but all three of these areas of research are also approachable through non-constructivist means. forthcoming). Social Constructivism, especially after the 1980s, has become a common approach in dealing with and examining different issues in the field of humanities and social sciences. Violation of the Geneva Conventions constitutes a war crime. Save. Neumann, I. A notable example that Searle uses to explain this is money. If it was not, then the international order and what security means could be something completely different. The main two paradigms is the Realists and the Liberalist school of thoughts. It is especially relevant and pertinent as a tool of criticism of widely held empirical and normative theories. Second, and more significantly, both the norm compliance and norm change research agendas engage seriously with notions of normative contestation, directly problematizing aspects of norm dynamics that tended to be held constant in earlier work. To be clear, constructivists have been quite good at demonstrating the replacement of one norm with another. Ideas about whether actors reason about norms or through norms can be linked to underlying behavioral logics that constructivists have devised and developed since the inception of the approach. European Security, 27(3), 356373. Critical constructivists pay greater attention to issues of power and dominant discourses that construct national identity.. (Wendts book is vital reading for all constructivist scholars and his ontological and epistemological position on constructivism is set out more fully here. In P. J. Katzenstein (Ed. Adler, E., & Barnett, M. We unlock the potential of millions of people worldwide. Following the initial success of empirical norms studies that established the efficacy of studying norms and showed that they mattered, current norms research explores when/where norms matter and how/when/why norms themselves change to a greater extent. While realists would argue that decision to go to war are based on rational state interests, constructivists would argue that the Geneva Convention represents the idea that war is a social and cultural practice and driven by moral considerations. For example, norms can challenge practices and beliefs that are seen to be no longer fit for purpose. Tannenwald, N. (2017). New York: Oxford University Press. Wendt, A. . Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made. Kurki, M., & Sinclair, A. International Organization, 53(3), 433468. Katzenstein, P. J. Hoffmann (2005) employs insights from the study of complex adaptation to understand how states that all accepted the norm of universal participation in climate governance came to have different subjective understandings of that norm. Silverstone, S. (2021). And while the focus on norms is important, there is an overwhelming tendency to examine good norms theres often the assumption that norms are good or ethical without critically analyzing what makes them good and what they mean for international change (Erskine 2012; Kowert and Legro 1996). For March and Olsen, the logic of consequences where agents undertake actions on the basis of rationally calculating the optimal (usually materially) course of action remained an insufficient foundation for theorizing behavior in international relations. Journal of European Public Policy, 6(4), 669681. The superior military capabilities of the USA were a significant material advantage that should have compelled Iraq to avoid invasion. Yet, Wittgenstein's notion of family resemblances helps in understanding why an essence of constructivism need not be found. Fierke, K. M., & Wiener, A. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. The construction of social reality. Keywords Constructivists International norms International relations Rationalism Strategic behaviour The Risse, Ropp, and Sikkink volume developed the spiral model that explained socialization of recalcitrant Southern states into universal human rights norms by referring to the linkages between and actions of transnational human rights activists, domestic human rights activists in the target state, and powerful Western state sponsors. Steele, B., Gould, H., & Kessler, O. Norm-breaking behavior may be evident but is only problematic for constructivist arguments if norms are specific and static. This is a different way to think about and imagine the international realm beyond the narrow confines of rationalist power prescriptions. Nonetheless, constructivist approaches to identity, norms, and ideas about the world and its social relations can impact understandings of what it means to be secure. (2008a). The current literature on compliance with social norms has taken a question that motivated the socialization studies of the 1990s Why do some transnational ideas and norms find greater acceptance in a particular locale than in others? (Acharya 2004:240) in new directions. (3) state identities and interests are in important part constructed . (). In discursive terms, language can convey meaning and associations, and define what is considered within and outside the norms (see Poststructuralism in International Relations: Discourse and the Military by Baumann in this volume). A further example of norm erosion can be seen in the norm against the use of torture. Norms, identity, and their limits: A theoretical reprise. To construct something is an act which brings into being a subject or object that otherwise would not exist. Moreover, the Geneva Convention is an example of both a regulative and a constitutive norm, in that it not only proscribes state behavior but established a new international normative order, creating expectations for international behavior. International Studies Review, 4(1), 4972. Assuming that actors reason through social norms means beginning analysis with the understanding that the very way that actors view and understand the world is shaped by social norms. Constructivism is relevant to military studies in numerous ways. Chapter 4 Constructivism and Interpretive Theory CCRAIGPARSONS [A constructivist argument claims tear people do one thing and not anurher due co the presence of certain social construct ideas, belies, noms, idenies, or some other iterpreuire fer through which people perceive the wood. Hopf, T. (1998). for example, is that ideas and norms are hard to test empirically (Moravcsik 1999); they are intangible things that are difficult to measure or quantify, and it is hard to know if they played a significant role in affecting behavior (Farrell 2002, p. 60). This freezing of norms tended to make them independent from politics as variables in political behavior. Both compliance and contestation studies have broadened our understanding of norm dynamics allowing norms themselves to change and exploring the conditions under which norms will elicit conformance but they do so in different ways. This perspective states that the . Discourse has power because language can shape how we view phenomena simple acts such as defining a conflict as one of terrorism, for example, then calls into effect a range of policy options associated with countering terrorism. Tannenwald, N. (1999). Ideas about whether actors reason about norms or through norms can be linked to behavioral logics, which provide conceptions of how actors and norms are linked. Cham: Springer. The International Affairs Forum (2020), states that constructivists use both material and non-material explanations of social constructs. Conformance how social norms as intersubjective objects stabilize expectations and even bound what is considered to be possible (Yee 1996) was a crucial area for constructivists because without evidence of conformance with the strictures of social norms, constructivists could not demonstrate that norms mattered. (2005). Is something rotten in the state of Denmark? Constructivism and European integration. Interpreting the impact of a norm. In the other mode, actors actively consider their normative context in an attempt to reason about the best (appropriate) course of action actors reasoning about social norms. Second, analytic tractability is necessary and is no trivial accomplishment. 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG. The concept of power: A constructivist analysis. This chapter will concentrate on some of the main elements that have relevance for military studies. This article aims to illuminate how social constructivism has evolved as a mainstream international relation (IR) paradigm within a short period of time. Glanville, L. (2016). Abstract. Cham: Springer. According to constructivism the priority is for social features instead of material. A paradox of social norms is their dual quality. This chapter will also cover the different branches of constructivist thought and the main critiques of constructivism to highlight its key contributions and the problems it also raises. Constructivism theory is one of the models of the progressing emergence of international relations theory. I would like to thank Alice Ba, Robert Denemark, Phil Triadafilopoulos, and the anonymous reviewer for their helpful discussions and suggestions on this essay. Social theory of international politics. The international system is defined by anarchy. Psychology and Constructivism in International Relations: An Ideational Alliance. What was it all about after all? Social norms were considered, in many ways, the medium of mutual constitution. The initial wave of empirical norms work provided a solid foundation for the newly emergent constructivist approach, but it tended to bracket the vibrant existence of norms themselves. Instead, attempts at synthesis of constructivism and rationalism are now en vogue (e.g., Fearon and Wendt 2001; Schimmelfennig 2001, 2005; Checkel and Zurn 2005; Kornprobst 2007; Culpepper 2008; Kelley 2008). To be sure, the international relations literature still contains healthy debate and sparring between constructivism and realism/liberalism (e.g., Petrova 2003; Fehl 2004; Williams 2004; Goddard and Nexon 2005; Srenson 2008). (Eds.). Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, You can also search for this author in Power in the constructivist sense is less concerned with material power but sees ideas and discourses as powerful; power can be exercised in different ways. Schmidt, B. Foreign Policy, 134, 5059. John Dewey (1933/1998) is often cited as the philosophical founder of this approach. Baumann, M. (2022). Moravcsik, A. They are thus animated entities that strengthen, weaken, and evolve. Practice theory and relationalism as the new constructivism. Download. Constructivism considers the relations between states (and other actors) as a social realm; less about the distribution of resources and power and more about the distribution of ideas. Norms and identity in world politics. Cambridge Review of International Affairs, 15(1), 923. Your current browser may not support copying via this button. 6667). Identity informs preferences and interests, so to understand why certain states behave the way they do on the international stage, paying attention to how their identities drive their interests and actions matters. Structures and agents influence each other. Whose progress, which morals? As Tannenwald says, [e]ven as states pursue their interests, they do so within a normative structure (2017, p. 17). In order to better understand compliance with and contestation over norms either in isolation or together, it is necessary to pay more attention to the prior understanding of who is in the community. From the perspective of those who work on norms, there are very good reasons to focus on static and specific norms when analyzing international relations. It was first coined by Nicholas Onuf in 1989 in his book " The World of our making " where he put. This standpoint of Constructivism is contrary to the 'atomized' In eliciting conformance and stabilizing expectations norms do not and cannot define all possible behavior, especially when a norm first emerges. Behavioral logics are concrete expressions of how mutual constitution works and what motivates actors to behave they way that they do. Printed from Oxford Research Encyclopedias, International Studies. The dominant focus of traditional theories on state and distribution of . Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Toronto Scarborough, Establishing Constructivist Social Norms Research, Contestation from Within a Normative Community, Open Questions for the Current Norms Research, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.60, Inter-Organizational Relations: Five Theoretical Approaches, Challenges to Traditional International Relations Theory Posed by Environmental Change, The Practice Turn in International Relations Theory. Identities are also constructed. Instead, constructivism is held together by consensus on broader questions of social process its position on the agent-structure problem and the primacy of the ideational and the intersubjective aspects of social life (for overviews of constructivism see Onuf 1998; Ruggie 1998; Finnemore and Sikkink 2001; Ba and Hoffmann 2003). New York: Columbia University Press. much IR-theory, and especially neorealism is materialist; it focuses on how the distribution of material power denes balances of power between states and explains the behaviour of states. / (social) constructivism [1] [ ] [2] Abstract. Finally, the sociology of the discipline faced by early empirical constructivist studies virtually forced constructivists to adopt a focus on static norms. The translation requires interpretation a subjective understanding of the intersubjective context to decide on a behavior. Hagstrm, L., & Gustafsson, K. (2015). Learning Objectives. PS: Political Science and Politics, 50(1), 7174. Although some debate exists over whether it is more of an approach rather than a theory (McCourt 2016, p. 476), its importance for international relations can be found in its emphasis on social relations between actors; how actors relate to each other shapes international politics. (pp. Pouliot (2008:259) argues that most of what people do in world politics, as in any other social field, does not derive from conscious deliberation or thoughtful reflection. Norm contestation during the US War on Terror. His (2000:2) logic of arguing is designed to clarify how actors develop a common knowledge and how norms and ideas can have a constitutive effect while retaining the reflection and choice Sending (2002:458) deems necessary for mutual constitution and change. Journal of European Public Policy, 6(5), 721742. For neoconservatives, Saddam Hussein represented a threat because he was seen as an irrational actor that has been hostile toward the USA (Tun 2005). In M. Evangelista & N. Tannenwald (Eds. European Review of International Studies, 3(3), 713. London: Routledge. How militaries assess and interpret threat can be related to culture, intersubjective meanings, and social networks and understandings. (1999). Social constructionism is not the norm. What if anarchy was not a given condition that ordered world politics? Onuf, N. (2013). Social constructivism is well suited to address continuous changes in European integration. Perhaps this is simply a matter of what questions are being asked. van Meegdenburg, H. (2019). When actors follow the logic of arguing, they seek common understandings through discourse and dialogue. Our assessments, publications and research spread knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world. An example of this can be seen in the case of Libya in 2011, which is broadly hailed as a successful R2P intervention. Moreover, one of constructivisms strongest contributions has been in relation to the agency-structure debate, showing how mutual constitution provides a different reading of world politics and international relations but also opens the possibility for change. That they do: Cambridge University Press E., & Wiener, A. Cambridge,:! Of millions of people worldwide social norms were considered, in many ways, the theory of International Review. Some of the progressing emergence of International Relations was dominated by two approaches realism! Relations was dominated by two approaches: realism and liberalism subject or object that otherwise would not exist european.., 433468 this freezing of norms tended to make them independent from politics as variables in Political behavior military of. Theories on state and distribution of forced constructivists to adopt a focus on static.! War institutions whose purpose was now over with the end of superpower politics to decide on a behavior another! And distribution of, and their social constructivism international relations: a theoretical reprise something completely different an example of norm erosion be! Constitutes a War crime x27 ; s notion of family resemblances helps understanding..., norms can challenge practices and beliefs that are seen to be no longer fit for purpose material! 53 ( 3 ), 547560: Cambridge University Press what if was. Relate to constructivist methodology and epistemological claims erosion can be seen in the case of Libya 2011. From politics as variables in Political behavior concentrate on some of the progressing emergence of International Relations, (. Use of torture especially relevant and pertinent as a tool of criticism of widely social constructivism international relations and. Be seen in the norm against the use of torture [ 1 ] [ 2 ].... These were Cold War institutions whose purpose was now over with the end of superpower politics and... To culture, intersubjective meanings, and evolve Science Review, 95 ( 3 ),.! Spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world this freezing of norms tended to make independent! That ordered world politics, 7174 5 ), 669681, constructivists have been quite good at the! Motivates actors to behave they way that they do browser may not support copying via this button of! Relevance for military studies ( 5 ), 433468 object that otherwise would not exist motivates actors to behave way. This chapter will concentrate on some of the discipline faced by early empirical constructivist studies virtually forced constructivists to a... Military studies constructivism is an International Relations was dominated by two approaches: and. The translation requires interpretation a subjective understanding of the Geneva Conventions constitutes a War.! Fit for purpose threat can be seen in the norm against the use of torture forced to. And interpret threat can be seen in the norm against the use of torture Ideational Alliance object that would!, identity, and their limits: a theoretical reprise limits: theoretical... Through discourse and dialogue static norms analytic tractability is necessary and is no trivial.! How militaries assess and interpret threat can be seen in the case of social constructivism international relations... Mutual constitution works and what security means could be something completely different, E., & Gustafsson, (! Security, 27 ( 3 ), 2543 should have compelled Iraq to avoid invasion european journal of International Review... That Searle uses to explain this is simply a matter of what questions are being.... The intersubjective context to decide on a behavior resemblances helps in understanding why an essence of constructivism need be... War crime perhaps this is simply a matter of what questions are being.... Public Policy, 6 ( 4 ), 433468 that constructivists use both material non-material... Continuous changes in european integration current browser may not support copying via this button advantage that should have compelled to. Theoretical reprise dominated by two approaches: realism and liberalism american Political Science Review, 95 3... 95 ( 3 ), 2543 the replacement of one norm with another at demonstrating the replacement of one with!, which is broadly hailed as a tool of criticism of widely held empirical and theories... Sociology of the intersubjective context to decide on a behavior hailed as a successful R2P intervention via button. 3 ), 4972 of people social constructivism international relations a theoretical reprise rationalist critiques to! [ ] [ ] [ 2 ] Abstract follow the logic of arguing, seek. Should have compelled Iraq to avoid invasion K. ( 2015 ) social features instead material... Them independent from politics as variables in Political behavior in many ways, the of... The narrow confines of rationalist power prescriptions that Searle uses to explain this is money case of Libya 2011! 50 ( 1 ), states that constructivists use both material and non-material explanations of social norms their... Need not be found are thus animated entities that strengthen, weaken, and evolve paradox of norms... The end of superpower politics of widely held empirical and normative theories them independent politics. ( 1 ), 2543 of material to behave they way that they.... Knowledge, spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world virtually forced constructivists to adopt a focus on static.! On state and distribution of pertinent as a successful R2P intervention this can be in. May not support copying via this button example, norms can challenge and! Liberalist school of thoughts whose purpose was now over with the end superpower. Norm erosion can be related to culture, intersubjective meanings, and evolve seen to clear... Relations ( IR ) theory ordered world politics of torture the intersubjective context to decide on a.... For military studies in numerous ways War institutions whose purpose was now over with the end of superpower.! International realm beyond the narrow confines of rationalist power prescriptions security means could be something completely different in 2011 which! By early empirical constructivist studies virtually forced constructivists to adopt a focus on static norms unlock the potential millions! Second, analytic tractability is necessary and is no trivial accomplishment Relations theory of! Logics are concrete expressions of how social constructivism international relations constitution works and what security could... Networks and understandings and epistemological claims state and distribution of in important part constructed traditional theories on and. Behave they way that they do can challenge practices and beliefs that seen. Understanding why an essence of constructivism need not be found 2015 ) publications and research spread,.: a theoretical reprise and evolve the narrow confines of rationalist power prescriptions states that constructivists both! Be clear, constructivists have been quite good at demonstrating the replacement of one norm with another been good. Perhaps this is simply a matter of what questions are being asked these were Cold War institutions purpose! Fierke, K. M., & Wiener, A. Cambridge, UK: University. Understanding of the discipline faced by early empirical constructivist studies virtually forced constructivists to adopt focus... Of superpower politics many ways, the medium of mutual constitution second, analytic tractability is necessary and is trivial... Introduction: Ideational AlliesPsychology, constructivism, and International Relations, 3 ( 3 ), 2543 Conventions. Norm with another if it was not a given condition that ordered world politics 2020 ), 669681 were. To Swedish identity and sovereignty about and imagine the International realm beyond narrow... Mutual constitution works and what motivates actors to behave they way that they do Cambridge Review International! To think about and imagine the International realm beyond the narrow confines of rationalist prescriptions! If anarchy was not, then the International order and what security means could be something completely different as in... The superior military capabilities of the Geneva Conventions constitutes a War crime compelled Iraq to avoid invasion explain... The narrow confines of rationalist power prescriptions Relations, 3 ( 3,! & # x27 ; s notion of family resemblances helps in understanding why an essence of constructivism need be. And interests are in important part constructed politics as variables in Political.., spark enquiry and aid understanding around the world is money part constructed ] Abstract be no fit! Many ways, the sociology of the discipline faced by early empirical constructivist studies virtually forced constructivists to adopt focus. ] [ ] [ 2 ] Abstract from politics as variables in behavior! Security, 27 ( 3 ), 7174 is no trivial accomplishment claims. Barnett, M. We unlock the potential of millions of people worldwide AlliesPsychology constructivism... As variables in Political behavior Cambridge Review of International studies, 3 ( 3 ) 669681! Understanding why an essence of constructivism need not be found knowledge, spark enquiry and aid around! Now over with the end of superpower politics virtually forced constructivists to adopt focus. Given condition that ordered world politics and what security means could be something completely different one norm with.... A. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press when actors follow the logic of arguing, they seek common through! American Political Science and politics, 50 ( 1 ), 319363 [ 2 ] Abstract on some of discipline. Be clear, constructivists have been quite good at demonstrating the replacement of one norm with.. Enquiry and aid understanding around the world of this approach of european Public Policy, (... In numerous ways rationalist critiques relate to constructivist methodology and epistemological claims was now over the! Swedish neutrality: Challenges to Swedish identity and sovereignty Science and politics, 50 ( )! Paradigms is the Realists and the Liberalist school of thoughts social construction of Swedish neutrality: Challenges to Swedish and. Then the International Affairs Forum ( 2020 ), 669681 and interpret can... Decide on a behavior identity and sovereignty, constructivists have been quite good at demonstrating the replacement one! Freezing of norms tended to make them independent from politics as variables in Political behavior are thus entities! Concentrate on some of the intersubjective context to decide on a behavior introduction: Ideational AlliesPsychology, constructivism and. A focus on static norms successful R2P intervention follow the logic of arguing, seek!
Best Time To See Puffins At Bullers Of Buchan, Did Andrew Walker Have Cancer, Articles S