Constructivism in International Relations

Maja Zehfuss' book offers a fundamental critique of constructivism, focusing on the work of Wendt, Onuf and Kratochwil. Using Germany's shift towards participation in international military operations as an illustration, she demonstrates why each version of constructivism fails in its own project and comes apart on the basis of its own assumptions. Inspired by Derridean thought, this book highlights the political consequences of constructivist representations of reality. Each critique concludes that constructivist notions of key concepts are impossible, and that this is not merely a question of theoretical inconsistency, but of politics. The book is premised on the notion that the 'empirical' and the 'theoretical' are less separate than is acknowledged in international relations, and must be read as intertwined. Zehfuss examines the scholars' role in international relations, worrying that, by looking to constructivism as the future, they will be severely curtailing their ability to act responsibly in this area.

ISBN 0521894662   Volumes 1 ISBN13 9780521894661 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 460 Publisher Cambridge University Press   Published in Cambridge Imprint Cambridge University Press   Series editor Smith, Steve, Biersteker, Thomas, Brown, Chris Format Paperback   Series ISSN 83 Publication date 25 Jul 2002   Series title Cambridge Studies in International Relations Library of Congress JZ1242 .Z44 2002   Height (mm) 228 DEWEY 327.101   Width (mm) 152 DEWEY edition DC21   Spine width (mm) 18 Pages 312   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

		Acknowledgements
		List of abbreviations
1		Introduction		1
2		Identity change? Wendt's constructivism and German military involvement abroad		38
3		Intersubjectivity and the normative: Kratochwil's constructivism and German military involvement abroad		94
4		Words and world: Onuf's constructivism and German military involvement abroad		151
5		The politics of 'reality': Derrida's subversions, constructivism and German military involvement abroad		196
6		The politics of constructivism		250
		Bibliography		264
		Index		281

'... this book constitutes a good attempt to improve the dialogue between the two approaches in International Relations.' International Affairs

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