INTODUCTION TO SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM

            The focus of social constructivism ( in shorthand: constructivism ) is on human awareness or consciousness and its place in world affairs. Much International Relations theory, and especially neo realism is materialistic focuses on how the distribution of material power, such as

1. Military forces
2. Economic capabilities

Defines balances of powers between states and explains the behaviours of states. Constructivists rejects a one – sided materil focus. They argue that the important aspect of international relations is social not material. Further more they argue that this social reality is not objective or external to the observer of international affairs. This social and political world, including the world of international relations , is not a physical entity or material object that is outside human consciousness. Consequently, the study of international relations must focus on the ideas and beliefs that inform the actors on the international scene as well as the shared understsndings between them.

            The international system is not something out there like the solar system. It does not exist on its own. It exist only as an intersubjective awareness among people,in that sense the system is constituted by ideas, not by material forces. It is a human invention or creation not of a physical or mental kind but of a purely intellectual and ideational kind. It is a set of ideas, a body of thoughts, a system of norms which has been arranged by certain people at a particular time and place.