The "third generation" of constructivism: what's new?

Abstract

Constructivism as a political theory since its start was quite pluralistic, being united by the chief idea - all the main aspects of international relations are socially constructed. That is why it is generally regarded to be a kind of “bridge” between the IT and social theory as such. The «generational» differences enrich the multitude of approaches. Nowadays already, the third generation of the constructivist theoreticians are at work. The constructivism had entered the scene at the time of the “Third Great debates”, or epistemological contradictions between the proponents of explanation, positivism and rationalism - from one side; and understanding (interpretivist attitude), from the other. However, the first generation had just marked the main attitudes, they were not precise enough to make them a science. They preferred to contemplate about the international problems, instead of analyze them. At the time of the second generation, constructivism was being recognized as a real alternative to political realism and liberalism as the most important theories of international relations and literally occupied the place, belonging before that to Marxism. At the time, the process of the «sciencefication» of constructivism took place. The third generation has brought something new and simultaneously has returned to some of the ideas, methods and theses of the first generation - back to social interactionism, discursive analyses, theories of communication, etc. The special attention it gives to the conditions and context.