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The Thrust of Wendtian Constructivism

Behravesh, Maysam LU (2011)
Abstract
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... (More)
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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Book/Report
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Alexander, Wendt, constructivism, anarchy, state
pages
11 pages
publisher
e-International Relations (e-IR)
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
78184103-50fc-405d-98c5-18419004b67c (old id 3053092)
alternative location
http://www.e-ir.info/2011/03/09/the-thrust-of-wendtian-constructivism/
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 12:07:53
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:09:10
@techreport{78184103-50fc-405d-98c5-18419004b67c,
  abstract     = {{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.}},
  author       = {{Behravesh, Maysam}},
  institution  = {{e-International Relations (e-IR)}},
  keywords     = {{Alexander; Wendt; constructivism; anarchy; state}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{The Thrust of Wendtian Constructivism}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/5934551/3053093.pdf}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}