Reflection on class 9.27

Constructivism has four main focal points: history and change, state interest and its identity, anarchy being thick, and international institutions and how they help change state’s ideas about what policies they should follow. I found the notion of “anarchy being thick” to be the most interesting. Within the international system, states recognize other states’ sovereignty. Although there is no over-arching world government, sovereign states agree to behave in certain ways. This perpetuates the notion that despite the anarchic system, rules and norms do exist. This view of anarchy is a central tenant of constructivism discussed in class.