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Questions and Answers
What is the focus of social constructivism?
What is the focus of social constructivism?
- Human awareness or consciousness and its place in world affairs (correct)
- Material resources and their impact on international relations
- The historical evolution of international institutions
- The balance of power among nation-states
What is constructivism examined as in the context of international relations?
What is constructivism examined as in the context of international relations?
- A purely domestic-level theory
- An exclusively materialistic approach to IR
- Primarily a critique of realist and liberal theories
- Both a meta-theory about the nature of the social world and a set of substantive theories of IR (correct)
What are some examples of constructivist IR theory presented in the text?
What are some examples of constructivist IR theory presented in the text?
- Realist Balance of Power, Liberal Democratic Peace Theory, Marxist Class Struggle
- Neorealist Structural Realism, Neoliberal Institutionalism, Postcolonial Theory
- Cultures of Anarchy, Norms of International Society, The Power of International Organizations (correct)
- Feminist Theory, Critical Theory, Poststructuralism
What does the text reflect on regarding the strengths and weaknesses of constructivist IR theory?
What does the text reflect on regarding the strengths and weaknesses of constructivist IR theory?
According to constructivism in International Relations, what is emphasized in explaining social action and interactions?
According to constructivism in International Relations, what is emphasized in explaining social action and interactions?
What does constructivism argue about the role of human agency in the international system?
What does constructivism argue about the role of human agency in the international system?
How does constructivism critique neorealist theory?
How does constructivism critique neorealist theory?
What does constructivist theory assert about the international system?
What does constructivist theory assert about the international system?
What do constructivists argue about the social and political world?
What do constructivists argue about the social and political world?
What example do constructivists point to as evidence of ideational factors shaping international politics?
What example do constructivists point to as evidence of ideational factors shaping international politics?
Who preceded constructivists with the International Society approach in the context of IR?
Who preceded constructivists with the International Society approach in the context of IR?
What did Martha Finnemore's work illustrate in the context of constructivist IR theory?
What did Martha Finnemore's work illustrate in the context of constructivist IR theory?
Which sociologist's work influenced IR constructivists by emphasizing the intersubjective relationship between structures and actors?
Which sociologist's work influenced IR constructivists by emphasizing the intersubjective relationship between structures and actors?
What did some liberals in IR focus on after the Cold War, with Francis Fukuyama endorsing it?
What did some liberals in IR focus on after the Cold War, with Francis Fukuyama endorsing it?
What did constructivists prioritize in contrast to the concrete advance of liberal ideas?
What did constructivists prioritize in contrast to the concrete advance of liberal ideas?
What type of beliefs consist of values and attitudes that specify criteria for distinguishing right from wrong or just from unjust?
What type of beliefs consist of values and attitudes that specify criteria for distinguishing right from wrong or just from unjust?
Which type of beliefs are beliefs about cause-effect, or means-end relationships?
Which type of beliefs are beliefs about cause-effect, or means-end relationships?
What is the empirical approach to the study of international relations that focuses on the intersubjective ideas defining international relations?
What is the empirical approach to the study of international relations that focuses on the intersubjective ideas defining international relations?
Who identified four major types of ideas as ideologies or shared belief systems, normative beliefs, cause–effect beliefs, and policy prescriptions?
Who identified four major types of ideas as ideologies or shared belief systems, normative beliefs, cause–effect beliefs, and policy prescriptions?
'Ideologies or shared belief systems' are described as a systematic set of doctrines or beliefs that reflect the social needs and aspirations of a group, class, culture, or state. Which political ideologies are examples of this type of ideas?
'Ideologies or shared belief systems' are described as a systematic set of doctrines or beliefs that reflect the social needs and aspirations of a group, class, culture, or state. Which political ideologies are examples of this type of ideas?
According to constructivists, what does power in international relations not have?
According to constructivists, what does power in international relations not have?
Who argued that a further development of basic concepts is needed in order to allow for the full analysis of ideas and meaning?
Who argued that a further development of basic concepts is needed in order to allow for the full analysis of ideas and meaning?
Which scholar represents the more moderate or mainstream constructivism according to the text?
Which scholar represents the more moderate or mainstream constructivism according to the text?
What is the term used to refer to relations of interaction that allow one actor to have direct control over another in international politics?
What is the term used to refer to relations of interaction that allow one actor to have direct control over another in international politics?
According to constructivists, what does power in global governance involve?
According to constructivists, what does power in global governance involve?
What is the core focus of constructivism as a social theory?
What is the core focus of constructivism as a social theory?
According to Wendt, what is the primary element that infuses physical assets with meaning in the social world?
According to Wendt, what is the primary element that infuses physical assets with meaning in the social world?
What does Wendt's statement '500 British nuclear weapons are less threatening to the United States than 5 North Korean nuclear weapons' illustrate?
What does Wendt's statement '500 British nuclear weapons are less threatening to the United States than 5 North Korean nuclear weapons' illustrate?
According to constructivists, what constitutes the core element of social structures?
According to constructivists, what constitutes the core element of social structures?
'The claim is rather that power and interest have the effects they do in virtue of the ideas that make them up.' What does this statement emphasize about ideational explanations?
'The claim is rather that power and interest have the effects they do in virtue of the ideas that make them up.' What does this statement emphasize about ideational explanations?
'Ideas thus define the meaning of material power.' What does this statement imply about the relationship between ideas and material power?
'Ideas thus define the meaning of material power.' What does this statement imply about the relationship between ideas and material power?
'The starting premise is that the material world is indeterminate and is interpreted within a larger context of meaning.' What does this premise suggest about the role of ideas according to social constructivists?
'The starting premise is that the material world is indeterminate and is interpreted within a larger context of meaning.' What does this premise suggest about the role of ideas according to social constructivists?
What distinguishes constructivist view from a materialist view held by neorealists and neoliberals according to Wendt?
What distinguishes constructivist view from a materialist view held by neorealists and neoliberals according to Wendt?
What do constructivists argue about interests according to Hurd (2008)?
What do constructivists argue about interests according to Hurd (2008)?
What does Tannenwald (2005) emphasize about ideas in relation to material power?
What does Tannenwald (2005) emphasize about ideas in relation to material power?
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Study Notes
- Some liberals in International Relations (IR) accepted neorealist assumptions but were vulnerable to critique from constructivists.
- Other liberals focused on the role of ideas after the Cold War, with Francis Fukuyama endorsing the advance of liberal ideas.
- Constructivists, in contrast, prioritize the role of thinking and ideas in general, rather than the concrete advance of liberal ideas.
- The end of the Cold War and theoretical discussions between IR scholars provided context for the constructivist approach, particularly in North America.
- European scholars preceded constructivists with the International Society approach, which emphasized the importance of social interaction and ideas.
- The concept of structuration, proposed by sociologist Anthony Giddens, influenced IR constructivists by emphasizing the intersubjective relationship between structures and actors.
- Constructivism builds on older philosophical and sociological ideas, including those of Giambattista Vico and Immanuel Kant, who emphasized the artificial nature of human creations and the subjective nature of knowledge.
- Max Weber's work on the social world's fundamental difference from the natural world and the importance of understanding and meaning also influenced constructivist thinking.
- Martha Finnemore's work illustrates the constructivist logic of appropriateness, which emphasizes the importance of norms and appropriateness in guiding human and state behavior.
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