Question

According to constructivism, which of the followings are correct? Please select all that apply.   

Group of answer choices

A. Personalities of the world leaders are the main factor shaping global politics.

B. As states interact, they together create collectively held ideas, beliefs and norms.

C. States attach meanings to the material world and these meanings are shaped/constructed by the collectively held ideas, beliefs and norms in the system.

D. States have constant relations among each other and they interact as members of a community, therefore they behave according to the logic of appropriateness in a given context.

E. Anarchy is what states make of it.

Answer 1

First, let's understand what is constructivism.

It refers to the understanding and perception gained by the individuals as they experience and interact with the environment.

In the above question, constructivism is focusing on the international relations between the states around the world.

Options that are correct are, B, C, D, and E.

States can be interpreted in the context of self-interested actors. The world is seen as socially constructed after the constructivism came to light. The behavior and interest of one state to another doesn't just come from the material, resources, and other such factors. As they interact, they start perceiving and creating beliefs, ideas, and norms together. And that is how the conclusion on how they will act toward each other is constructed.

For example,

USA and UK, USA and North Korea

Uk has more nuclear weapons than North Korea. But still, the USA is more hostile and wary toward North Korea than the UK.

This can be perceived as they interact with each other. This behavior has been formed by the USA because of their interactions with North Korea rather than focusing on the military might or the weapon armory.

In this, the USA has attached meaning to the material nature that has been shaped through the ideas and norms existing in the state. So here the social context is given importance before the material value. Moreover, this social context is an ongoing process. It can change anytime as the belief or the idea of the state changes.

As for the logic of appropriateness, it is a standard behavior by the actors in the social world which is perceived to be right or appropriate. For example, environmental sustainability is seen as a standard action that is to be accepted and complied by actors such as world leaders (it depends on the identity they have created for themselves by interacting in the environment and their own actions.)

As for option E, Anarchy in the state can be interpreted in many different meanings as assigned by the actors.

As for the first Option, although world leaders are an important catalyst in changing global politics. What matters the most in the world play is the interaction of the actors.