The constructivist approach is the most important new school in the field of postcold war international relations. Constructivists assume that interstate and interorganizational relations are always at some level linguistic contexts. Thus they bridge IR theory and social theory. This book explores the constructivist approach in IR as it has been developing in the larger context of social science worldwide, with younger IR scholars building anew on the tradition of Wittgenstein, Habermas, Luhman. Foucault, and others. The contributors include Friedrich Kratochwil, Harald Muller, Matthias Albert, Jennifer Milliken, Birgit Locher-Dodge and Elisabeth Prugl, Ben Rosamond, Nicholas Onuf, Audie Klotz, Lars Lose, and the editors.

Publisher Description

Constructing International Studies is a collection of writings that explores the most progressive edge of the discipline. Through diverse perspectives and issues, the book gives students a thorough understanding of how the field is developing presently. By incorporating the conceptual thinking that will frame the next generation of international studies, it provides students an understanding of the contemporary discussions and prepares them for meaningful future engagement in the field. The book opens with a foreword by Nicholas Greenwood Onuf. The first thematic section is devoted to addressing the meaning of international studies and its place in academia. Subsequent sections discuss the construction of identities in a post-modern world, constructing the notion of the "international," and deconstructing security and development. The textbook promotes a real-world global perspective through the inclusion of reflective readings from scholars who are shaping discussions on the future of the discipline. The work explores topics such as feminist international relations, international law and organizations, postcolonial agency, norms, international political economy, development, the rise of nationalism, and the role of human rights beyond liberal and republican traditions. Dynamic and interdisciplinary, the representative sampling of scholarship in Constructing International Studies is well-suited to lower-level courses with a progressive orientation. It is an ideal choice for upper-division courses dedicated to discussing current, enlivening themes in the field.

Offering full coverage of major subthemes and subfields within political science this reference handbook includes entries on topics from theory and methodology to international relations and institutions.

Individuals, international organizations and states are calling for the world to confront climate change. Efforts such as the Kyoto Protocol have produced intractable disputes and are deemed inadequate. This volume adopts two constructivist perspectives - norm-centred and discourse - to explore the social construction of climate change from a broad, theoretical level to particular cases. The contributors contend that climate change must be understood from the context of social settings, and that we ignore at our peril how power and knowledge structures are generated. They offer a greater understanding of why current efforts to mitigate climate change have failed and provide academics and policy makers with a new understanding of this important topic.

The Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Governance and Politics surveys the broad range of environmental and sustainability challenges in the emerging Anthropocene and scrutinizes available concepts, methodological tools, theories and approaches, as well as overlaps with adjunct fields of study. This comprehensive reference work, written by some of the most eminent academics in the field, contains 68 entries on numerous aspects across 7 thematic areas, including concepts and definitions; theories and methods; actors; institutions; issue-areas; cross-cutting questions; and overlaps with non-environmental fields. With this broad approach, the volume seeks to provide a pluralistic knowledge base of the research and practice of global environmental governance and politics in times of increased complexity and contestation. Providing its readers with a unique point of reference, as well as stimulus for further research, this Encyclopedia is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in the politics of the environment, particularly students, teachers and researchers.