POL 2103 Lecture 6: POL2103 L6

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POL 2103
• Professor: Ivaylo Grouev

Document Summary

Constructivism is much more of an approach than a fully-fledged theory. Its disciples propose a variety of perspectives and pursue quite different agendas. Trying to explain structure and agency dichotomy. Anarchy (cid:862)o(cid:271)je(cid:272)ti(cid:448)e reality(cid:863) or (cid:373)a(cid:374)ifestatio(cid:374) of specific historical & strategic pattern/ culture. Constructivist theory rejects the basic assumption of neo-realist theory that the state of anarchy (lack of a higher authority or government) Is a structural condition inherent in the system of states. (cid:448)aryi(cid:374)g ide(cid:374)tities a(cid:374)d (cid:271)eliefs (cid:373)old (cid:862)se(cid:374)si(cid:271)ility patter(cid:374)(cid:863) Based on a complex and specific mix of history, ideas, norms. "anarchy is what states make of it". That is, anarchy is a condition of the system of states because states in some sense. Anarchy is the result of a process that constructs the rules or norms that govern the interaction of states. The condition of the system of states is a result of the process by which states and the system of states was constructed.