POLI 244 Chapter Notes -Mikhail Gorbachev

• School: McGill University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLI 244
• Professor: Fernando Nunez- Mietz

Document Summary

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. Rather, it argues, in alexander wendt"s words, that "anarchy is what states make of it". That is, anarchy is a condition of the system of states because states in some sense "choose" to make it so. 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 today as self-helpers in the midst of anarchy is a result of the process by which states and the system of states was constructed. It is not an inherent fact of state-to-state relations. Thus, constructivist theory holds that it is possible to change the anarchic nature of the system of states.