Constructive Sovereignty

Constructive Sovereignty International Relations Theory

An emerging theory pioneered by John Maszka intended to address globalization's increasing onslaught against state sovereignty. The theory maintains that states are not the primary actors, their constituents are. Therefore, their preferences are not fixed. Since states merely represent the preferences of their constituents, they will only adhere to and ultimately embed those international norms their constituency will accept. Rather than push for larger and more powerful international organizations that will impose global norms from the outside in, the theory of Constructive Sovereignty posits that ultimately change must come from the inside out. That is to say, from each state's own constituency. As each state's constituents become more and more international, they will become more receptive to international norms. In this way, international norms are embedded and viewed with legitimacy while each state's sovereignty is maintained and respected.

See also:

^ John Gerard Ruggie (1998). "What Makes the World Hang Together? Neo-utilitarianism and the Social Constructivist Challenge". International Organization 52 (4): 855. CUP.

^ Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics (Cabridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), p.1

^ Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics (Cabridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp.8-15

^ Chris Brown, Understanding International Relations (Basingstoke: Palgrave Publishing, 2005), pp.40-43

^ Kenneth Waltz, Theory of International Politics (McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 1979)

^ Alexander Wendt, "Anarchy is What States Make of It: the Social Construction of Power Politics" in International Organization (46:2, Spring 1992), p.396

^ Alexander Wendt, "Anarchy is What States Make of It: the Social Construction of Power Politics" in International Organization (46:2, Spring 1992), pp.396-399

^ Alexander Wendt, "Anarchy is What States Make of It: the Social Construction of Power Politics" in International Organization (46:2, Spring 1992), pp.399-403

^ Stephen Walt writes on the back cover of Finnemore's book "Many writers have asserted that social structures assert a powerful impact on national preferences...btu Finnemore is the first to present sophisticated evidence for this claim."

^ Martha Finnemore, National Interests In International Society (New York: Cornell University Press, 1996), p.2

^ Martha Finnemore, National Interests In International Society (New York: Cornell University Press, 1996), p.2

^ Martha Finnemore, National Interests In International Society (New York: Cornell University Press, 1996), pp.6-7

^ Alexander Wendt, Social Theory of International Politics (Cabridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999), pp.29-33

^ The Culture of National Security (New York: Columbia University Press, 1996)
^ Elizabeth Kier, Jeffrey Legro, Peter Katzenstein, and many others
^ Cambridge: Polity Press, 2005

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu