Norms, Identity, and Culture pp 33-75

Introduction

  • Authors: Ronald L. Jepperson, Alexander Wendt, Peter J. Katzenstein

  • Purpose: To challenge prevailing notions in national security studies, emphasizing cultural and institutional contexts along with material factors.

Key Arguments

Cultural and Institutional Environments

  • Cultural Embeddedness: Security environments are influenced significantly by cultural and institutional factors, not solely material ones.

  • Contrasting Traditional Views: Neorealists neglect cultural elements, focusing instead on material conditions (e.g., balance of power).

Identity of States

  • State Identity: Cultural environments also shape the identity of states, influencing their behavior and interests rather than just their responses to material conditions.

  • Intrinsic vs. Contingent Identity: Dominant theories see identities as intrinsic (essential attributes) rather than socially constructed.

Three Layers of International Cultural Environments

  1. Formal Institutions and Security Regimes

    • Examples: NATO, OSCE, arms control agreements (NPT, CWC, SALT).

  2. World Political Culture

    • Includes norms around statehood, sovereignty, and international law.

  3. Patterns of Amity and Enmity

    • Cultural perceptions define allies (e.g., Canada vs. Cuba), despite similar material conditions.

Identity in National Security

The Importance of State Identity

  • Recognition and Survival: External cultural environments impact whether states can survive and thrive in the international system.

  • Transformative Power: State identities can evolve; historical events can significantly redefine nations' self-perceptions (e.g., post-WWII Japan and Germany).

Dynamics of State Behavior

  • Anarchy: Even in anarchic environments, shared cultural understands dictate behavioral norms.

  • Changing Perspectives on Warfare: Shifts in norms surrounding war—from glorified pursuits to viewed negatively—reflect profound cultural changes throughout history.

Contributions to National Security Studies

Methodological Approach

  • Intellectual Map: The book uses a conceptual framework to position different theories of national security.

  • Critique of Rationalist Models: Traditional rationalist insights fall short by failing to account for the cultural contexts that shape states' behaviors.

  • Constructivist Framework: Encouragement of developing a constructivist perspective that includes culture in analyzing national security.

Implications for Theory and Practice

  • Norms' Role: Leading argument emphasizes that norms deeply shape the national interests and policies of states.

  • Cultural Processes: The discussion includes how normative frameworks influence international politics and policy formulation.

  • Exploration of Identity Politics: Identity influences alignments and conflict, pushing back against purely materialist interpretations.

Comparative Framework of Theories

International and Domestic Theoretical Approaches

  • International Security Theories: Emphasis on cultural and institutional frameworks as being as important as material factors.

  • Domestic Politics: Analysis of how national identity informs domestic policy-making and responses to international crises.

Empirical Essays Overview

  • Focus: The volume comprises several essays that analyze how norms, culture, and identity impact state security interests and policies.

  • Examples of Norm Effects: Contribution of essays that investigate specific case studies showing the impact of norm establishment on state behaviors (e.g., humanitarian interventions).

Conclusion

  • Call for Broader Definitions: The ongoing relevance of national security studies necessitates a broader understanding that includes cultural and identity dimensions alongside traditional material considerations.

  • Future Research Directions: Suggests extending analysis to include effects of norms, cultural contexts, and the role that identity plays in shaping state interests.