Social Theory of International Politics

In Wendt's argument, actors' identities are not given but are developed and sustained or transformed in interaction.

“The key move in this argument, or so I claim, is that actors' identities are not given but are developed and sustained or transformed in interaction (Wendt, 1996: 48; Wendt, 1992a; see also Wendt, 1999 and Hopf, 2000: 370).”

The claim that the way international relations are played out is not given but socially constructed remains central to Wendt's argument.

“Yet the claim that the way international relations are played out is not given but socially constructed remains central (Wendt, 1999: 70).”

Wendt considers identities to be relatively stable.

“identities, which Wendt after all considers to be 'relatively stable' (Wendt, 1992a: 397; Wendt, 1999: 21)”

The Wendtian approach suggests that the FRG's increased military involvement reflects not merely a change in behaviour but a change in identity.

“The Wendtian approach suggests that this reflects not merely a change in behaviour but one in identity (see Wendt, 1999: 26).”

An actor's social identity depends on relationships and reflects the behaviour of others towards it.

“An actor's social identity depends on relationships and indeed is thought to reflect the behaviour of others towards it.”

If other states are considered part of the notion of self, in other words, if the boundary of the self gets pushed outward beyond the boundary of the state, Wendt argues that there exists a collective rather than egoistic definition of identity.

“If other states are considered part of the notion of self, in other words, if the boundary of the self gets pushed outward beyond the boundary of the state, Wendt argues that there exists a collective rather than egoistic definition of identity (Wendt, 1996: 52f; Wendt, 1999: 229).”

Wendt's recognition of rhetorical practice or verbal communication as significant fails to address how discourse should be analysed.

“The recognition of 'rhetorical practice' (Wendt, 1996: 57) or verbal communication (Wendt, 1999: 346f) as significant is a step in the right direction but it fails to address how discourse should be analysed.”

In Wendt's account, the identity of the state as Germany is not created in social interaction and is, as corporate identity, prior to international politics.

“The identity of the state as Germany is therefore not created in social interaction. It is, as corporate identity (Wendt, 1999: 328), prior to international politics.”

Wendt does not consider the constitution of states as subjects in the first place.

“Wendt does not consider the constitution of states as subjects in the first place.”

Wendt's recognition that domestic politics influence state behaviour and state identity fails to address the complexity of the issue at hand.

“Wendt's recognition that domestic politics influence state behaviour and state identity fails to address the complexity of the issue at hand (Wendt, 1999: 264 and 364).”

Wendt asks us to assume two actors, ego and alter, who then come to interact only after we have imagined them on their own; this starting point is an 'interactionist convention'.

“Wendt asks us to assume two actors, ego and alter , who then come to interact only after we have imagined them on their own. This starting point, he tells us, is an 'interactionist convention' (Wendt, 1999: 328).”

Wendt is mainly concerned with the boundaries rather than the content of theories about the self.

“It is not surprising, given this starting point, that Wendt is mainly concerned with the boundaries rather than the content of theories about the self (Wendt, 1999: 229, 241f, 243, 305 and 317).”

For a systemic theory of international politics, more specifically, states must be treated as given.

“For a systemic theory of international politics, more specifically, states must be treated as given (Wendt, 1999: 244).”

Actors, according to Wendt, have to be identified '[b]efore we can be constructivist about anything'.

“Actors, according to Wendt, have to be identified '[b]efore we can be constructivist about anything' (Wendt, 1999: 7).”

This 'essentialist' claim seems problematic for a 'constructivist' theory.

“This 'essentialist' (Wendt, 1999: 198) claim seems problematic for a 'constructivist' theory (see also Doty, 2000: 138 and Kratochwil, 2000: 75 and 91).”

When, in his theoretical argument for the constructedness of anarchy, Wendt asks us to think of two actors, ego and alter, this starting point is presented as innocent, as relatively free of prior assumptions and indeed as necessary.

“When, in his theoretical argument for the constructedness of anarchy, Wendt asks us to think of two actors, ego and alter , this starting point is presented as innocent, as relatively free of prior assumptions (Wendt, 1992a: 404f; Wendt, 1999: 328) 33 and indeed as necessary.”

Wendt endorses a scientific approach to social inquiry.

“Wendt insists that 'the basic realist idea that scientific explanation consists in the identification of underlying causal mechanisms [...] does apply to the social sciences' (Wendt, 1987: 355; see also Wendt, 1999: 77) and explicitly 'endorses a scientific approach to social inquiry' (Wendt, 1999: 1).”

The 'via media' or 'middle ground' where Wendt and some other constructivists aim to locate their approaches may not be as stable a place as they think.

“The 'via media' (Wendt, 1999: 40 and 47) or 'middle ground' (Adler, 1997), where Wendt and some other constructivists clearly aim to locate their approaches, may just not be as stable a place as they think.”

In Wendt's account, identity is effect rather than cause in the context of structure having causal effects on identity.

“Here, identity is effect rather than cause but the requirement of clear separation remains.”

Wendt upholds a difference in analytical focus between rationalist and constructivist models.

“Although Wendt, in his recent work, argues that 'there is no contradiction between rationalist and constructivist models of the social process' (Wendt, 1999: 366f), he does uphold a difference in analytical focus between the two.”

Wendt's departure from traditional conceptualisations of international politics lies in his claim that the situation we find ourselves in is not an expression of natural necessity but a construction.

“Wendt's departure from the traditional conceptualisations of international politics lies in his claim that the situation we find ourselves in is not an expression of natural necessity but a construction.”

Wendt seeks a 'via media' through the Third Debate.

“Wendt tells us that he is seeking a ''via media' through the Third Debate' (Wendt, 1999: 40 and 47).”

In Wendt's account, structure is supposed to have causal effects on identity.

“On the other hand, structure is supposed to have causal effects on identity (Wendt, 1999: 144).”

In Wendt's framework, multiple histories do not matter and 'Germany' appears only as a unified entity.

“Although Wendt claims that '[h]istory matters' (Wendt, 1999: 109), multiple histories do not. 'Germany' only makes an appearance as a unified entity.”

Wendt considers identity a causal category that helps explain international politics.

“Although he is more concerned to make a case for the significance of constitution, based on his commitment to scientific realism he also considers identity a causal category which helps explain international politics (Wendt, 1998: 107; Wendt, 1999: 93 and 229).”

Wendt takes certain aspects of the world as given based on a defence of scientific realism.

“Although Wendt argues that the world is constructed, there are certain aspects of the world which, based on a defence of scientific realism (esp. Shapiro and Wendt, 1992; Wendt, 1999: Ch. 2), he takes as given.”

Constructivist models are most useful when we have reason to think that identities and interests will change.

“Constructivist models will be most useful, he tells us, when we have reason to think that identities and interests will change (Wendt, 1999: 367).”

For identity to cause anything, it must be an antecedent condition for a subsequent effect and as such distinguishable from that which it is causing.

“If identity is to 'cause' anything, however, it must be an antecedent condition for a subsequent effect and as such distinguishable from that which it is causing (Wendt, 1998: 105; Wendt, 1999: 25, 79 and 167).”

Wendt's via media entails addressing social construction while maintaining a commitment to science.

“This via media entails addressing social construction, or what Wendt calls 'an idealist and holist ontology', whilst 'maintaining a commitment to science' (Wendt, 1999: 47).”