Constructivism in International Relations 🌐

This discussion of Constructivism is the culmination of the first part of my Intro to IR class taught at Rutgers University in 2015. It brings a five to six-week segment of comparative theory to an end before the Midterm review.

Topics include a discussion of the basic ideas of Constructivism, a comparison between Balance of Power and Balance of Threat, a consideration that states can employ a number of types of foreign policies simultaneously depending on the country in question, and a consideration of "Wilsonian Realism", which is a type of hybridized foreign policy of Liberalism and Realism that works together to create a considerably belligerent and aggressive foreign policy in the name of democracy, liberty, and freedom.

Lecture 07: Contemporary International Studies

Part IV: Theories of Constructivism.

Dr. Michael Rossi

Department of Political Science
Rutgers University
October 7, 2015

Chapter Markers:

00:25 - Theories of Constructivism
07:41 - Constructivism and State "Identity"
13:15 - Anarchy as an "Imagined Community"
17:35 - Balance of Power vs. Balance of Threat
23:20 - Constructivism as a Modifier to a Theory?
24:25 - "Wilsonian Realism"

Music - Audiomachine, "Tree of Life" (2013) - https://youtu.be/mFZ588ydX1U