POLS 2200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Martha Finnemore, Thomas Hobbes, Identity Formation

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 2200
• Professor: Cindy Clarke

Document Summary

Constructivism is both a social theory and a substantive theory (theories) of ir. Social theory is a general theory about the social world, about social action, and about the relationship between structures and actors: realism and liberalism focus on theories of ir, not really about giant worldviews. In social theory, constructivists believe in the social construction of reality. Substantive ir theory is theory about some aspect of ir: theory within the worldview that would explain something about ir. Look at these constructs that we live by and we assume they cannot be changed, but in fact all they are, are constructs that can be reinterpreted and changed. Security dilemma countries do not necessarily need to build up arms when another country does first depe(cid:374)ds o(cid:374) (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h (cid:272)ou(cid:374)tries i(cid:374)(cid:448)ol(cid:448)ed, does(cid:374)"t ha(cid:448)e to be a threat unless you interpret it to be one.