International Relations: Constructivism Lecture Notes

This set covers the core vocabulary, key theorists, and conceptual frameworks of constructivism as presented in the lecture notes.

Nicholas Ofman

The individual who coined the term 'constructivism,' with the theory's breakthrough associated with the end of the Cold War.

Reflectivist Theory

A theoretical approach, such as constructivism, that moves away from positivist, scientific, and objective methods to focus on how social constructs and identities shape politics.

Ontology

The study of the nature of reality.

Epistemology

The study of the nature of knowledge.

Socially Constructed

The idea that state interests and identities are not natural or given, but are created and maintained through social interactions and shared understandings.

Interests (Constructivism)

Variable and context-dependent goals shaped by identity, which constructivists argue are fluid rather than fixed by power or security.

Identities

Role-specific understandings and expectations about the self that represent how actors understand themselves and are understood by others.

Institutions (Wendt's Definition)

A relatively stable set or 'structure' of identities and interests that includes shared principles and norms governing state behavior beyond formal organizations.

Thin Constructivism

The classical approach to constructivism associated with Alexander Wendt, which maintains certain ideations about state-centrism and systemic interactions.

Thick Constructivism

A critical approach to constructivism associated with Jutta Weldes, emphasizing that national interests are historically contingent and influenced by internal state dynamics.

Strategic Culture

The beliefs, experiences, assumptions, and behaviors that shape how a state perceives its interests and security objectives.

Strategic Narratives

Frameworks used by political actors to communicate identities and interests, operating similarly to securitisation to influence policy and state behavior.

Norms

Social, unwritten, or formal rules regarding an accepted standard of behavior, which can be codified in law or remain informal.

Norm Lifecycle

A three-stage process developed by Finnemore and Sikkink (1999) consisting of norm emergence, cascade, and internalization.

Tipping Point

The critical moment in the norm lifecycle between emergence and cascade where a norm either becomes internalized or loses interest.

Norm Spiral Model

A model by Risse and Sikkink (1999) describing how a norm begins with a few people and grows outward as it gains popularity.

Boomerang Model

A concept developed by Keck and Sikkink (1998) relating to the political processes and development of norms.

Alexander Wendt

Key figure who wrote 'Anarchy is what states make of it' (1992), arguing that the effects of anarchy rely on social interactions rather than inherent structure.

Amity

A type of relation between states characterized by cooperation or friendship, such as the US and USSR during WWII.

Enmity

A type of relation between states characterized by hostility, such as the relationship between the US and USSR during the Cold War.

Conventional Constructivism

A branch of constructivism that asks 'What?' questions and investigates if states act according to their identity to predict future behavior.

Critical Constructivism

A branch of constructivism that asks 'How?' questions, focusing on how language, discourse, and communication create an actor's identity.