Constructivism

1
Constructivism Classical Liberalism
2
Constructivism

• Society of states rather than atomistic units
• Norms, ideas, identities, rhetoric matter
• Constitutive and regulatory rules
• -Constitutive rules the underlying rules of the
  system
• -Regulative rules regulate interaction

3
Martha Finnemore

• Realist and liberal theories do not provide a
  good explanation of humanitarian intervention
• Norms shape states interest and behavior

4
Constructivist Agenda

• Examine the role of specific ideas and norms
• -gtAnti-apartheid, anti-slavery, human rights,
  banning of land mines, humanitarian intervention
• The role of networks in spreading norms,
  policies, ideas
• The role of identities in shaping state behavior
• The role of perception and rhetorical action

5
Critique

• Wishful thinking, discount potential for conflict
• Ideas and norms are trumped over by power and
  interests
• Difficult to test/verify validity of theory

6
Classical Liberalism

• Domestic politics and institutions matter
• Liberal principles
• Market and private property economy
• State sovereignty and self-determination
• Individual rights free press, free speech right
  to assembly religious toleration
• Constitutional and representative government
• Checks and balances

7
Conditions for Liberal Peace

• Immanuel Kant (Perpetual Peace, 1795)
• Liberal republican government
• A pacific union/federation
• Mutual non-aggression pact
• Role of reason
• Recognition of rights of other liberal states
• Cosmopolitan law of universal hospitality
• Right of access

8
Liberal States and Imperialism

• Joseph Schumpeter (Sociology of Imperialism,
  1919)
• Democracy and trade result in pacifism
• Niccolo Machiavelli (XVc. Florence)
• Republics best suited for imperial expansion
• Lenin
• (Imperialism, the Latest Stage of Capitalism,
  1974)
• Capitalism inevitably leads to imperialism

9
Democratic Peace Theory

• Democracies do not fight wars with each other
• Role of publics
• Checks and balances
• Appreciate rights of non-republics
• Role of trade and transnational constituencies?

10
Evidence of Democratic Peace
Liberal Regimes and the Pacific Union
60
50
50
40
29
30
20
13
10
8
3
0
18th c.
1800-1850
1850-1900
1900-1945
1945-1982
11
Critique of Liberalism

• Idealist and Utopian
• Public opinion in democracies often supportive of
  wars
• Relation between democracy and peace spurious
  (explained by a third factor such as balance of
  power)
• Peace encourages democracy rather than vice
  versa.