National Interests

Constructivist Perspective
Lecture 4
Constructivists’ Argument
National Interests are not deduced from the systemic
condition of anarchy
“Anarchy is what states make of it” Alexander Wendt
Fundamental Principle
People act towards objects on the basis of meanings that the
objects have for them
Meanings are intersubjectively constituted
Meanings create identities and interests
National Interests
Meanings, identities, interests are not formed through

inter-state interaction
Meanings are produced in domestic political, historical

and cultural contexts

National interests are social constructions created as

meaningful objects out of the intersubjective and culturally

established meanings with which the world and place of
the state in it is understood
Important Questions about National Interests
Constructed by whom?
F.P Decision makers construct National Interests

Why constructed?
For the state to act

People act in terms of their interpretation of and intensions

towards, their external conditions, rather than being

governed directly by them
How National Interests are Constructed?
Cultural &Linguistic
Elements

State
Create Representations
Officials
Posit Relations
among diverse
objects by quasi-
Populate World with causal arguments
variety of objects (Munich Analogy)

State (itself) Other Specifying which

States/NSA Warranting
Identity objects are to be Conditions for
Features Identity protected & which
features justified action
constitute threat
(Vietnam War)
Construction of Representations
Representation
Determination of situation

Definition of problem

Representations are constructed in a social process

Articulation
 Articulation
Process through which meaning is produced out of extant
cultural or linguistic elements (terms/Ideas)
E.g. totalitarian, terrorist, puppets, Dominoes, Munich
analogy etc
Totalitarianism
Puppets International
of the Communism
Kremlin
Expansion and
Aggression

Connections seems natural but are socially constructed and

historically contingent
Contingent Character of Articulation
Trailer Cab

Lorry
Implications
Specific articulations are never produced forever
Any articulation can be uncoupled and rearticulated

USA Freedom

USA Aggression Imperialism

Degree of Freedom for Articulation
What degree of freedom do state officials enjoy in

constructing articulation?
Reality Constraints
Recognizing the social construction of national interests

does not deny such constraints

In the claim the national interests are socially constructed,

the issue is “Meaning” & its “Social effect” not physical

existence
Examples (Earthquake, Missiles in Cuba)