Realist Constructivism: Rethinking International Relations Theory
Abstract
Realism and constructivism, two key contemporary theoretical approaches to the study of international relations, are commonly taught as mutually exclusive ways of understanding the subject. Realist Constructivism explores the common ground between the two, and demonstrates that, rather than being in simple opposition, they have areas of both tension and overlap. There is indeed space to engage in a realist constructivism. But at the same time, there are important distinctions between them, and there remains a need for a constructivism that is not realist, and a realism that is not constructivist. Samuel Barkin argues more broadly for a different way of thinking about theories of international relations, that focuses on the corresponding elements within various approaches rather than on a small set of mutually exclusive paradigms. Realist Constructivism provides an interesting new way for scholars and students to think about international relations theory.
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- Authors
- Barkin, J. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Massachusetts Boston (US)
- Corresponding author
- Barkin, J. Samuel
- ORCID
- Barkin, J. Samuel
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 2010-03-25
- OpenAlex
- W4244594006
- Cited by
- 144
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 11.10
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › International Relations and Foreign Policy
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Science Research and Education
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Critical Realism in Sociology
- Keywords
- realist constructivism, realism, constructivism, international relations theory, theoretical paradigms
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