Social Constructivism: school of thought assuming the world is constructed by people’s social interactions

Emphasize role of idea, perception, identity
- Interactions > define Identities > define Interests > define norms
Believes knowledge and reality is subjective and is defined by discourse and interactions
The social world’s norms, actions, and interests is created by human beings and can be changed (war, peace, cooperation)
- Identity shifts according to your interaction partner
Social structures: don’t exist. common beliefs in structures → following the norm
Materialism is part of constructivism but it’s the ideas that determine what those materials mean to each actor. Constructivism = Materialism + Shared Ideas

International System (reality) is defined by International Relations between states (discourse)
Alexander Wendt rejects Structural Realism’s notion that anarchy must lead to self-help.
- Wendt believes the outcome depends on interactions between states
International Institution have power on several dimensions ²
- Material Power: control of influential resources. Ex: World Bank has money, UN has troops.
- Normative Power: European Union persuading members to harmonize their institutions and practices with it.
- Agenda Setting: power to decide what is focused on. Ex: UN meeting with predetermined agendas of discussion.
Process of How Peace affect International System
- IGOs/International Laws can shape ideas
- in turn shaping states behaviors
- Shaping the international stage as a whole
Common Identity can be created to cooperate (United Nations, European Union, ASEAN)
- To build relations
- Conduct diplomacy
- Strengthen unity/identity

Social Construction: are elements and concepts in the world and International Relations is created by the shared ideas, understanding, and in coordination of one another rather than it being developed individually or are inevitable to happen. (Security Dilemma, Alliances, Anarchy…)
Ideational Creation: Interpretive understanding: different way of describing the world than material way
Identity/System Change: structures and identities change when common ideas change
Mutual Constitution: States and structures co-influence each other.

3 Major Ideal Types of Anarchy ²

Hobbesian (Thomas Hobbes)
- States are adversaries and enemies
- Violent conflicts is a way of survival
- War of all against all
Lockean (John Locke)
- States consider each other as rivals but there are restraints
- States do not seek to eliminate each other
- States respect each other’s rights to exist
Kantian (Immanuel Kant)
- States view each other as friends
- States settle disputes peacefully
- States support each other in the case of a threat by a third party

Sub-Topics