Abstract This article aims to present selected elements of SC’s development in the field of International Relations (IR) theory. It underlines the role played by sociology of knowledge and the ...transformative moment of the end of the Cold War. The main focus of this article is put on the process of mainstreaming SC in IR. This articles presents a summary, reminding one the fundamental premises of SC and their potential in IR and in social sciences in general. It is especially important today, as we face the situation where “everyone writes, but no one reads anymore” (Bok, 2015).
Social constructivism is usually seen as a theoretical approach that made a sociological turn in the International Relations theories, by questioning what used to be perceived as de facto truths in ...dominant traditional theories. In the focus of this article is the concept of identities and interests of one of the most influential theorists of constructivism, who undoubtedly inspired further theoretical debate, Alexander Wendt. However, the aim of this article is not to review, but to conceptually analyse Wendt's theoretical approaches. By analysing definitions of identities Wendt offers, by understanding the process of their formation (endogenous and exogenous factors), their classification (personal/corporative, identity of type, identity of role and collective identity), as well as by understanding a relation between identities and interests (complementarily explanatory role), the author attempts to highlight the theoretical contribution and potentially highly significant practical implications of Wendt's approach, primarily to analysis of states, their interests, behaviour and, potentially, prediction about their further international relations. Furthermore, certain flaws are observed, reflected, primarily, in the existence of different, and even contradicted claims, as well as in excessive exclusivity, which are presented in an argumentative manner. Finally, the author concludes with suggestions in order to overcome the aforementioned flaws or, to some extent, to revise Wendt's concept of identities and interests.
U radu se, korištenjem konstruktivističkog pristupa Alexandera Wendta, analiziraju razlozi za nastanak europskih integracija s obzirom na
neriješeno njemačko pitanje. Pritom se koristi model odnosa ...identiteta i
interesa kako bi se analiziralo ponašanje Sjedinjenih Američkih Država
i Sovjetskoga Saveza u razdoblju od 1945. do 1990. s obzirom na nastanak hladnoga rata, europskih integracija i rješavanje njemačkoga pitanja.
Također se analizira odnos identiteta i interesa dviju njemačkih država
prema njihovom budućem ujedinjenju. Polazeći od Giddensove teorije
strukturacije, na koju se naslanja Wendtov konstruktivizam, prati se ponašanje države kao agenta u odnosu prema anarhiji kao strukturi među‑
narodnog sustava. U članku se propituje pretpostavka da je neriješeno
njemačko pitanje ubrzalo, ali i uvjetovalo nastanak europskih integracija.
Na kraju članka analizira se utjecaj politike detanta i njezinih posljedica
na njemačko ujedinjenje.
In this article, Alexander Wendt’s constructivist approach was used in order to explain the reasons for the formation of European integrations in
regard to the unresolved German Question. The model of interaction between identities and interests was used in order to analyse the behaviour
of two superpowers between 1945 and 1990, in relation to the following
developments: the Cold War, European integrations, and German unification. The behaviour of two German states regarding their future unification was also observed. The state was used as the basic unit of analysis.
As theoretical foundation, Wendt’s constructivist approach, which rests
on Giddens’ theory of structuration, was used in order to explain duality
of structure and agency in relation to reproduction or transformation of
the (international) system. The assumption that the unresolved German
Question not only accelerated but also conditioned the emergence of European integrations, was put under scrutiny. It was also analysed how the
emergence of the policy of detente conditioned the changes in international
relations during the observed period, particularly in regard to ideational
factors such as the results of the Conference on European Security and Cooperation, West German Ostpolitik, and the appearance of new ideas in the
former Soviet Union, as well as their role in the unification of two German
states in 1990.
Quantum mechanics supersedes classical mechanics, and social science, some argue, should be responsive to this change. This paper finds that two rather different arguments are currently being used to ...argue that quantum mechanics is epistemically relevant in social science. One, attributed to Alexander Wendt, appeals to the presence of quantum physical effects in the social world. The other, attributed to Karen Barad, insists on the importance of quantum metaphysics even when quantum effects are negligible. Neither argument, however, is sound. Consequently, the paper concludes that neither of them offers compelling arguments for the view that quantum mechanics has epistemic relevance for social science.
In this essay, we attempt to use Alexander Wendt’s Hobbesian culture hypothesis to examine three aspects of US-North Korea relationship: (i) what kind of relationship it has belonged to, (ii) why it ...has not changed for over past 70 years, and (iii) what possible relationship between the USA and North Korea will be under the Biden Administration. The results show that Hobbesian culture has been dominating US-North Korea relations since 1949 when the USA did not recognize North Korea’s sovereignty and then launched unlimited war against North Korea in late 1950. Then the difference in internalization of the USA and North Korea to Hobbesian culture generated two opposing goals: while the USA pursues interests created by the existence of Hobbesian culture, North Korea pursues interests generated by the end of this Hobbesian culture. This is the main factor that has prevented a structural change over past 70 years. Theoretically, there may be at least three possibilities to change the structure of US-North Korea relations under the Biden Administration. But our examination of these possibilities show that it is hard for these possibilities to come true. It is suggested in this essay that the USA should try to improve its relations with North Korea by increasing US-North Korea interdependence. Once the interdependence is generated, the external restraint will be created. And when great enough, the interdependence will improve their relation and even create a structural change in the further future.
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