Anarchy is what states make of it: the social construction of power politics
1992/01/01 by Alexander Wendt · 45 citations
Social Sciences · #International Relations and Foreign Policy #Political Conflict and Governance #Peacebuilding and International Security
paper · doi:10.1017/s0020818300027764
Abstract
The debate between realists and liberals has reemerged as an axis of contention in international relations theory. Revolving in the past around competing theories of human nature, the debate is more concerned today with the extent to which state action is influenced by “structure” (anarchy and the distribution of power) versus “process” (interaction and learning) and institutions. Does the absence of centralized political authority force states to play competitive power politics? Can international regimes overcome this logic, and under what conditions? What in anarchy is given and immutable, and what is amenable to change?
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