1. Topics for today Events of the day/week Review: Constructivist theory Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

2. Constructivism Alexander Wendt  Constructing International Politics World politics is ‘socially constructed’ (p. 71)  Structure of the international system is social, not material.  Structure of the international system shapes the identities and interests of actors (states). Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

3. Critical theory Constructivism is part of a larger family of perspectives called:  Critical theories. Also included are: feminism, neo-Marxism, postmodernism. Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

4. What’s wrong with rationalism? Realism and institutionalism assume that structures are material. Constructivists believe that structures are social (shared understandings: norms). Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

5. Example: security dilemma Realism: a security dilemma is inescapable (material) reality. Constructivism: a security dilemma is constructed reality based on intersubjective understandings. Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

6. Limits of materialism Material capabilities only matter because people believe in them.  UK’s nuclear arsenal (p. 74). Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

7. The poverty of neorealism Are constructivists peaceniks?  Not necessarily (p. 76) Just because states feel insecure does not mean they will act insecure. There are different anarchies, not a single one (p. 78). Why are small states not eliminated (p. 78)? Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz

8. Explaining conflict Keohane/Martin and Wendt insists that realism is not automatically the best theory to explain war and peace. All three perspectives seek to primarily explain, not evangelize. Wednesday, 2/27/2008Hans Peter Schmitz