Session 17: Constructivism and four sociologies:

Alexander Wendt, in chapter 1 of his book “Social Theory of International Politics” emphasized on the environment of International System through the lens of four sociologies.

He stressed more on the ontology of International Order in the start of the chapter. According to him, before claiming that how international order is constructed, one needs to understand its nature properly. It is not as simple as it looks at a glance. The main actors in constructivism are States, Multinational Corporations and Transnational Social Movements and International System as its level of analysis. Furthermore he tried to show that international system is not a very social place for states. Interaction does take place in international arena but it does not really construct the motives and interests of states. In fact interaction is usually based on the own purposes. However there is an impact of this interaction on behavior of states which is constructed. Unlike individuals (humans), behavior of states could be reducible to itself in a way if states’ behavior is based on material interests.

The four sociologies of International Politics, as defined by Alexander Wendt, are Materialist, Idealist, Individualist; and holist. Further he used the combination of ideas of two sociologies to apply it on international politics because he wanted to confined himself somewhere between the two extremes. And therefore, he claimed and showed as well that how this theory is not only applicable in IR but on domestic and individual level as well. The two continuum presented by him from four sociologies are materialists-idealists and individualists-holistic. It is not hard to see that both continuums are made up of varied ideas. Materialists-Idealists tell us that actors’ behavior is based on both material environment and social consciousness at the same time. On the other hand, Individualists-Holists take about whether behavior of the actors reducible to itself or invested in properties of state.