5 Constructivism

Founding move: Alexander Wendt's 1992 article — "anarchy is what states make of it": anarchy has no single logic; enemies and friends are made by interaction, not dictated by structure. Building on sociology (Giddens), philosophy (Searle's social facts) and history, constructivism became the mainstream's "third way" after the Cold War (which realism and liberalism had failed to predict).Core claims:1. Ideas, norms, identity and culture — not just material capabilities — constitute thesystem: interests are not given; they are constructed by identity ("we are a peaceful non- aligned state" produces different policy than "we are a rising power," whatever the GDP);2. Social facts are real — sovereignty, money, borders, even "great-power status" exist by collective belief and practice (Krasner's organized hypocrisy aside);3. Norms change world politics: the abolition-of-slavery, decolonization, anti-apartheid, anti- landmine, and Responsibility-to-Protect (R2P) trajectories show norm entrepreneurs, transnational movements and international law re-defining legitimacy (Finnemore & Sikkink's norm life-cycle);4. Change is possible — because the system is made, it can be remade (the English School's "international society" is the cognate tradition).Critique: explains change better than persistence; can state which norms win?; risks idealism about a world still patrolled by carriers and sanctions.Nepal from the constructivist lens: the strongest theory for Nepal's own history — how a Himalayan kingdom made itself into "the birthplace of the Buddha and Everest's home,"…