Constructivism is a social theory in international relations that asserts that significant aspects of international relations are shaped by ideational factors, particularly those that are collectively held). According to constructivism, most of the core concepts in international relations are socially constructed, meaning that they are given their form by ongoing processes of social practice and interaction. Actors, usually powerful ones like leaders and influential citizens, continually shape and sometimes reshape the very nature of international relations through their actions and interactions.
Some key features of constructivism in international relations include:
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Socially Constructed Reality: Constructivism sees the world, and what we can know about the world, as socially constructed. Actors thoughts and actions literally construct international relations.
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Identity: According to constructivism, the behavior of humans is determined by their identity, which itself is shaped by societys values, history, practices, and institutions.
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Norms: Constructivists look at how norms develop, who presses these norms, and who sets up different norms from the ones currently set. This notion of norms is one that has occupied international relations for quite some time.
Constructivism is one of the major schools of thought within international relations and has become increasingly influential since the late 1980s to early 1990s). It offers alternative explanations and insights for events occurring in the social world, showing that it is not only the distribution of material power, wealth, and geographical conditions that can explain state behavior but also ideational factors.
