PART I
SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM
Constructivists were inspired by theoretical developments in other social
science disciplines, including philosophy and sociology.
In sociology, Anthony Giddens proposed the concept of structuration as a
way of analyzing the relationship between structures and actors.
According to Giddens, structures do not determine what actors do in any
mechanical way, an impression one might get from the neorealist view of
how the structure of anarchy constrains state actors.
The relationship between structures and actors involves intersubjective
understanding and meaning. Structures do constrain actors, but actors can
also transform structures by thinking about them and acting on them in new
ways. The notion of structuration therefore leads to a less rigid and more
dynamic view of the relationship between structure and actors. IR
constructivists use this as a starting-point for suggesting a less rigid view of
anarchy
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