Session 17- A Break Fom The Past

The reading by Gerard Ruggie provides us with an excellent introduction to the theory of constructivism in International Relations. This theory provides a break from earlier theories that talked endlessly about realism. Where realism claims that it is inevitable for certain events to happen because it is in the nature of states to act selfishly, constructivism provides an alternative view point by suggesting that important aspects of international relations are historically and socially constructed over the years.

This theory stood out to me because it talks about knowledge as a social construction which previous theories had missed out. Moreover, because this theory borrows sociological ideas from Durkheim and Weber, it is able to provide a systematic understanding of how knowledge is created through social interactions. This then gives a rise to this idea that the reason why political actors act in a certain why is not because there is something inherent in their nature, but because the situation around them is such that it constructs certain categories of information from which they then have to chose. At times the information present in the surroundings is not enough which then leads to states making irrational decisions.

Additionally, Ruggie’s article is a rather modest piece of work as he does not claim that the constructivist theory is the best version that can be used to explain international politics. He contributes new ideas to cover those areas which previous theories had failed to provide an explanation for. Moreover, the reading was comprehensive and easy to understand which made it more effective and interesting.

Lastly, Ideas play a significant role in the way the world is viewed and understood. Even though realism has dominated the realm of international relations for a very long time, alternate theories such as that of constructivism help shape different kinds of ideas and provide new lens from which we can view the world.