POLI 381 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Tabula Rasa, Social Forces
14 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
On wednesday we discussed how different theories regard facts as either objective (traditional theories) or subjective (newer theories). Social constructivism is an attempt to bridge the gap between the two possibilities. It concerns itself with the agent structure theory. Agents = different actors in the international system (as an example, liberalism believes in multiple actors. ) Structures = the international system, religion, language, all are examples of structures. Constructivists are concerned primarily with how agents and structures interrelate. One of the elements of liberalism is that individuals and the choices that they make matter. Liberals also say that structure exists and relate to agents as simply a limitation on actors and their interests/actions. Li(cid:271)eralis(cid:373) does(cid:374)"t e(cid:454)plai(cid:374), ho(cid:449)e(cid:448)er, (cid:449)here those i(cid:374)terests for(cid:373)ed. Structural realism, however, argues that the structure matters primarily. Neo realists say that the anarchic international system shapes the basic problem that all actors face. The problem being survival and acquisition of power.
