The summary of Social Constructivism from book name 'the Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches'.

1. Education Material Only
Social
Constructivism
Nattawut Thammanukornsri
ทฤษฎีสรางความรูนิยมเชิงสังคม

2. 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

3. 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 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.
International system as invention:
Idea change, system change:
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.
When the idea in the international relations
change, the system would also change,
because the system consist of thought and
idea.

4. Back to origin
Sociologist & Structuration: Anthony Giddens
Constructivists 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 Vico
Giambattista 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.

5. Back to origin (2)
Knowledge is subjective: Immanuel Kant
Immanuel Kant argued that when we obtain knowledge, we always be subject as it filtered through
human consciousness.
Understanding & Meaning: Max Weber
Max 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.

6. The Social theory: Social World
Structure and Actors
Social theory is the more general theory about theory the social world, about the social action and
about relation between structure and actors.
World of idea
In 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 science
There 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.

7. Materialistic view VS. Ideational view
Materialistic view
According 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 view
In 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.

8. Four types of ideas
Ideology
Ideologies or shared idea are a systematic set of doctrine or belief that
reflect and aspiration of a group, class, culture, state.
Normative beliefs
Normative beliefs are beliefs about right and wrong.
Causal beliefs
Causal beliefs are beliefs about cause effect, or means-end relationships.
Policy prescriptions
Policy prescriptions are the specific programmatic ideas that facilitate
policymaking by specifying how to solve particular policy problem.

9. Constructivist into IR
Culture of anarchy is created
Both 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 Case
Wendt 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.

10. Constructivist to IR (2)
Norm of international society: Martha Finnemore
Martha 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 Johnston
Alistair 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.

11. Constructivist to IR (3)
Power of International Organization: Barnett & Finnemore
Barnett 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.

12. Education Material Only
Social
Constructivism
Nattawut Thammanukornsri
ทฤษฎีสรางความรูนิยมเชิงสังคม