Regionalism and Constructivism: Gains and Promises

Abstract

Constructivist approaches to International Relations have mainly put emphasis on the social structure of the international system, the constitution of state identities and interests, and the logic of appropriateness driving state behavior within this structure. Constructivist studies on regions and regionalism have made significant contributions both to constructivist International Relations theory and to regionalism studies. This article aims to take stock of this mutually beneficial relationship and advance some proposals on how it can be furthered. Regionalist constructivist studies have developed empirically testable propositions on key concepts in constructivist theory such as collective identity, socialization, and security community. They have also helped integrate regionalism studies into mainstream international relations theory debates. Constructivist comparative regionalist studies would further this mutually beneficial relationship by enabling the analysis of different pathways of collective identity formation and socialization, the implications of different types of collective identity on regional order and policy convergence, and the relative sustainability of different processes of socialization.

Keywords

Constructivism, Regionalism, Socialization, Identity.

Citation

Rumelili, Bahar, “Regionalism and Constructivism: Gains and Promises”, International Relations, Volume 12, Issue 46, pp. 169-185.

Affiliations

• Bahar RUMELİLİ, Assoc. Prof., Koç University, Department of International Relations