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The Thrust of Wendtian Constructivism

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Author

Summary, in English

The core of Alexander Wendt’s theorization of international politics consists in his intellectual endeavour to develop a theory of the international system as a “social construction,” which lies in stark contrast to the positivist and materialist conceptions of IR as theorized particularly by realists and liberalists. In fact, it is an originally “cultural” theory of international politics explained by different “cultures of anarchy” constructed by states themselves, which contests the “ontological atomism” and “epistemological positivism” both neorealism and neoliberalism as traditional theories of IR share in principle. Despite being a state-centrist scholar of international politics, Wendt criticizes neorealists and neoliberals for reifying the structure of states system and taking for granted its ontological and ideational properties, which precludes us from considering and assessing the potentials for structural and institutional change.

Publishing year

2011

Language

English

Document type

Report

Publisher

e-International Relations (e-IR)

Topic

  • Political Science

Keywords

  • Alexander
  • Wendt
  • constructivism
  • anarchy
  • state

Status

Published

Research group

  • Politisk teori och metod
  • Internationell politik