Anarchy Is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics

36 Pages·2006·4.14 MB·English

Anarchy is what States Make of it: The Sorial Construction of Power Politics,

“Alexacxler Wend

osernarionad Or gece. Vel. 46. Ne. 2. (Spring, 1992}, pp. 391-425,

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Foi Ang 2ST 143 206
Anarchy is what states make of it: the
social construction of power polities
Alexander Wendt

aa eso rating nl Wht hn reemerged as aise entetion
in Titeenstiona relations doar): Resolving in ehe pave azound cumpedng
‘hooves of human nant he dehats frie senoerned today withthe tone
tevihch stat action influenced hy 'strecre” amore und dhe dtu,
fof poser) vores "process finternction und leming} as uae, Does
the abscneo of eontalae!pultical amhuy “once sates 1a play cicapelive
aster ples? Can inteaational egies overcome his og al une shat
nadie? What in unare i given wl ical, alt aon 1
hangs?

The debeve betveen: “aeore ali" sal “acoltecal has Noon bated a 8
shaved vamanauent Ia “ctionaliaa” Tio al sil rhenrzg, ional ehnics
ects Uy Us ask some qesious sol aa ers, ating rhe ions ane
Intecens of ageul as cxtgonns sl given and fauing 00 Raw the Bohavior ne

tayo tee pl 1h i bi is sui a eins
focte Gtr asc ome Lamune, Wc Pues, oye oc has
neuen ties tye ney nage he Ory of Manu tA

epi Neredion se elitcalan eae 10 Usauer 199), pe 2881 Het
{ied axes enn ot ue ron, Cleese ee Sp 3
con Heeger Se
392_Ialemstiowsl Ongaubation

‘arate generates outcomes. As such, calinalism offers a fundementalle
belt veaceptin af both proses and insitatons: they change behavior
Iho not ilies dnterests” tn aan this ay of fanny Teoh
prchlems, nooroaists and nenttheals share wonevally sonar assumpLiuss
Shot ager eaten are the dominant actus ime stem, und hey delite
fcourityn “seltinevested terms, Neovo and acolberas may diagree
shout the extent tne sales ao melted by ellie ene elnolle Ea
Ir bath ne take the eltineresed stale ae slarting pol Zo Aebry

"Tv aring pint aes substantive ses tombe since chy ewe
nachos are neccesary “sel-help”esstoms. systems in wie bath cena
suthorie and enloese security are aben. The sel-belp vorollrs ww saaneby
foes snermous work in nevrealion. generating che unkereatly comets
years of tbe secur’ emit ad ellective atin brs. Sop
tl ocem at “allan aun uch ewspien plinlgesl eon ls
tiesiots youve, ali. le tes hi, aed baat hy, inleraeton. ino:
Sate aay cmaorn tothe age of sl help wile deen rn the ste,
bly spl arringr hsb acprarion pss! ee enix earning
inwoleea in waltiigns of icenliy and intact is not! Questions sou:
feng and inetesctnnmation ae hetstnre not inypotant to acento
ingornaional relations. A raanalist peoblématiqu, which eoduces proces ts
f4mamie of behavioral interaction among exigenously vane rs,
defines the supe ol systemic heer»

lyasepling seh reasoulng, Hberaly comovde ly noowalige the cans
povers of zaarebn souetuee, bu hey ysia Uke me cally psc argent
that proces ca generale couperalivebehivior. ve a estate so
seltAsip ajelem, ‘Some Uberals may believe cht smaecly sn, i Re
onsite saler Sill saereole lentes ewgeme > praia Sach
weak” bere woncle Ue atl contig of act bark vce ana
setanliely seul ezopy extinct fav, behave snacepine TS
ns pws af inecens, They ace reals hoffe scram righ all
Flow “eos realise"), size on'y if tatemational invietinas can Shara
[poor and fatness do hey o hogan the Miri af eclisa

cm pl mene eae aa te a

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(eta oe tae

Sheet ey ied ine tape Soy tH elm tan
ea a tea SOE SF hee Rl ot snore

olka Bp ono! Ais time Ceca oe
Anavehy 393

‘Yet some licoiale want move, When luienh Nie speaks of “women
earning,” or Robot ovis 0! “changing cuceplione uf sll and un:ete: ot
JRefere Keohane of “wucologcal”cupceptiuns of interest, ofa suse ga
inanertant role Lur unilormativns vf ently am iteses ia the bez
recarch program un, by exons. pulenelly supe irons eunceptin of
process ond stations world polite” "Strong liberal shuuldbe troubles
by Uke uishotoraus paving uf seuclare use pe an anaes
ub leat amd intevest tussigh process ee tniesfonnalins of teuctre
[ational hs Ge Ty offer gute an argue.” whizh in pare why. naa
inpottant arc, Frisdich Krstochl and Joba Russie argued chat i
indisalist -slogysnnteadicted the ire-eobjoervie epternlogy necessary
fe toxime iacorg ra reels ie fa: penmie Regimes canna change Weattes
sind imtercere ifthe tora take as given, Because uf this rationalist Fp
eypite increasingly numerous ond rch studies of complex leming in (arelg
policy neoliberal lack a stematie Ley bow sel changes ected Us
Tost pile reali tosis bout suche while avsncsuy tier us
signs about process

The yi hs os Uncen whose expla ides aero
doer, Reon acai he “Fallot *hacanee Tan en cia:
Ihe fees ne wea omstanstign Bf subjestiiy and sims hei age
poem, flowing Nishsas Or T wil cll sy Sonnet?” Despite
Irotanclitferonce,cogtieits, aster uctraists, stanépoine and period
fn forsiniat, role chen, and srueruraciniste hare 2 concer with the
hatie “sociological” fsus bracketed by faconalist—namely, the Hse ut
‘onty= and interert-formation, Constactivsa’ poten cuniibulia 103
stony kberalim fot been obscuced, baeve, by eeremt epistemilagial
Uetutes between moderaists wat posiaucerulet. up wih Seine slscipines
Dosen for aut ebony x exuvenlional nacre program, anal Dieent
sete ity orion fen Sie." Res Ince srs ei ete ic

ica, Seegcemencen on oma ims ae
ARMREST maa

IRAE Ie re rae rest
sofia ee gti a me near

sina tn. Car indy a tem snap tay 1 Garin 0)
394 Yrusrautinnal Organization

so divides consteuetvits, With respect 10 che substance of ternational
'slotions however. buth moder and pustuoder vorstructivits ae tereste
‘tow knowledeeable practices consiute subjects which 3 aot fre Hom the
rou Boeri ese fu bot unis tinas (ents ines They shave 4
Cups, intenwubjective ooneption of prc in whic emits ad ine
‘elvane eudenots Wr uteri athe tho a clcnsli-chasieal nei
whic ey areesvgenU

‘iy bjecve i this alse i to bul ridge botaxen these wen citi
aad, by extetson, beloweu the eclisiboral aval rainualisre Mott
sll) by veka islet argument, dean “toa Strucurationist
fan syabelic intertiouls. wiley, 9m Behaif nf che Tihsal claim chat
itccusionsl inslutins. ean faneorn wate Mention and interest 1h
fnnteaal ta the “eotnmic® theorising char dominates rainstscam stems
International tations scholarship, this inves. a “sociological social
sefhslogea Yoim af aysomi theory dn which identities ane iterets are the
Seyetfone variable! Whether aenmavanieariaa Hhenaliea” sl iberatiia
“Snes noe invereat me here, What ds ie that consti eight coneibete
"Henflanty eo the strong liberal eres in identity and inleres-unousion
land ehorohyporhip tel be enriched with Uberl mate aol exznagred
‘cognition “hic i ate nestled

‘My slalegy fur billrg Ub bic wll hou argue agniast the nonretie
ae Up seedy fy gi hy aaa: haere exagenonsiy to proces.
‘Conti ets nt net ens a gon joh taking he onal ponerse aay
fesleutl. Thic is unfiitinate, singe én the feast View anarchy (utiies
sistent in Me itaiteninal traneformation of iderties and incest: sd
“ius building system thenries in exchately rationalise corns is putative
fausal powers mist he changed 7 prncese ant insiotions are nit 2 Be
fuhardinared 09 sruccne. 1 argue that soIPAsIp and poser pelos do not
fellow either legis 07 camally trum anarchy ond chal if toy we Gd
‘sores in asoholp worl, thie Une ls provess. nol truce, Lene 20

Reng scm ig the tcl: ras the Quan» Spas n ns
‘etait hereon Sc nmr eer ath ek ie Foran tc:
fon mecomert tee dea Yona Tapl “Toe The Gt: On the Dae
eee he Poros tracts Gore pe

12 Te ut nt aa ta pps aie wl il come, ea
Ee eal a etree cere ener
Goninon

pede Senape even aan pe
Avail 306

legio” of anarchy ar tom the practices that evoate end intuntiats oe
stmeture of ientiss and ‘ete rather thaa another, seaetare has
Srlstence ereausal pomers apart fom punosss. Solt-alp ard poser palin are
institut, not essential fotares nf anarchy. acl tr what mues mate oft

In the subsoquone sections af tit arti, | sity asain the lms and
assurintions af nsorsalam, dev a positive argurtent sbout kos sele-help
land power politics arb silly singed andes anarchy, und ther explore
three says in whieh denies and inereite ace transom under ane: by
the fosalution uf sovereiets by a ewoluion of wauperaun cul bY en:
Hama efforts transfor egoitic heals itso te iki.

Anarchy nl poorer politics

Chsseak reins awe ue Thames Llobbes, Keisldl Mibu, tal Laas
Morgen altnbuted eels al pone polities pail human ast
vwereas shloral seater aoowalitetanphosine anarchy. The difsrence
ere it yult feu diferon, inesprctaians. of anatehy’= casa pres.
Kenseah Wali’ werk is inovtant fa Poth, Ta Man, the Sat, am Tay, We
efiney aunty 26 comin of possibly for oe “permissive” auc of wr
atgving thn wae acer bezndse there ie noche peevent ther Tris the
Inna namine or domes pares of predaeor sets, howove. tha rewide the
inital impene of “sficienr” eniso of eonfie which fhrocs other sales tw
respond in Kind* Welt i nor eniey convient about eh since Be ip
‘thous jusieuina fiom eke peamieive coueal thi thal amirehy we
hvays poosile Ue the active stuval cai toil "wie my al aug mutuent
fcc." Lue despite Wall's vonchaligg call fn kind nage: howe, the
ficieal wave Ib aihize ial ysis are fi the is sd sco
Faun, Ths ronal Wale Thi flere Pus, nei ft
sn ssenrabinage hens ate spurned a8 “edgerinnist” and the Inge of
inary scene tl taconite Teel aed pow plies a8 ascemary
Featgueg ifort pin”

“Thisieunkiiunte, sine whatencr ame may thine of rte and seevad-mage
fhenvie. they have the virtue of plying thae practices deteimime the
‘hacacto af anarhg. Inthe peraisve low, on i human or domestic actus
faume A to atack B will B bare co defend fel. Anarehies muay contin
d4marsie thar lead w coreptitive peter pots but the also roa aol. wade
can agus abnut hen paviclursttoctures of dentiy am interest wil emerge

to, Benes Wu set Sin anf Har (Mou Yak: Coins Ubon Hen 19%

"A eanesin ga Dey once Se aM, Nay 9,
396 lujemadionst Opaulenion

Tremeanetiny, meescr seme plc in ening he Parsee anarchy
is sbsanialy shay ass here iss abot hich Inv ater: esp ad
Soinpaitve pose poe are ply gien exogeanasy bythe Svusiare At Me
Tw 39¢ hese contst the nsorelist description ofthe cantemporary sate
systor a acompstitive steep world | wil aly dispucs its ceptanation.
deselop ame angurcent in three stapes. Knst, 1 dsontarale the concepts af
self-help and azarae by showing chat sTFunterssted conceptions of secures
sve noes consiaaive propery of anaes. Seen, 1 sto to selehelp and
competitive rer poi may be produced causally by pracesecs ot inerae~
tio. betecon states in which anarchy plays only a pernisive role. In both of
‘ose stage af my angumout, TsiP-consciousy beueket ce fet an eecoad-
image determinants of sate went, nut bevanse chey are uniaportat (they
sts indeed UxpertaaN, tut because lke Wal’s objeclve. mae is te cary the
tose" of anny. hind, lramrolsce fist sa sewond mage determinants
vortsee hel ellecs om ioemliy-Luraion in ullerent kinds aarchies,

Anarcap, elfain, ani interuBieeive hand

‘Walt detines polite structures thse dimensions: ordeting principles in
this cave, anarey,principloe of diereninton (which here cop ut) a the
iistnbutwn of capable” My ie, hs cei predicts ile abut sts
beehason de des mal predic whether Iw snes will be Ena or foes, ld
recuse each thers novercigal. sl ve cyatls tes sll se revival or
slalds uo posers, and ao un The Gis, whieh are fundamentally
Inversulgectre.aectstutes security interests aed Ubus tbe character ul (ae
intersctiou unler anoreiy Lae importa sisi of Walt’ Ibeors Sleples
‘all plies ee argves hat Ie alam of ices ther Ue
ths alaues af power, iclerninee sets sctnd, Cheats hoing silly ot
structed.” Pat mare generally. withont assumptions aha rhe strectne a
‘omits and interosts in che atom, Walt’ dctnicion of structure cane
edit he concen or Ayranice of anarchy. Self-help Fone such interjee
five serzcture and, as such, doe che sitive expcanatnzy work 1 the then.
“Tho question wehether ithe loca ur coneingone feature nf nar.
In thisseetion, | dexclop the exncept of "struczuco af doatity and itor
cand show tha uo suru one flinsHpically um anand,

‘A lovskneatapuisiple of vowels social Theory ¥ that peuple act
rowan objets dachadiag aher itor, ou the Das He caine a Ibe

imme ds an eT Fe igs #9 98 mein Peg
Esra arn nh
2B: Seen Wak foes een a Ne Go ers Ps.
Anariy 387

object haw fy cn Staos sor diffeanele toward enemies than they eb
Toran ‘ions leisy encinies are ehisatening and filed are not. Anacchy
dant fh aslo Of powcr ae mutica th tellus which whieh, US
ining provct hae a diferent signisance for Canad, “han tor Cuba, deepte
Their shir "szuccural” postin, just af Bosh mbelles hive a diferent
Sigpitesnce for he United States than do Sowot miles. Ube distibulion of
[pee may aeayeaffocstatercalculuinns, but how i¢ does depends um the
Interubjective understandings and expectations. um the “uiipbetion al
knowfodge,” thac constitute thei voaceptions of self age ulher =H ssl
forges” wha a niveraly ix the pons gre praaio af potas andl
sndent ceive ly ext the United Sates sl Spies Tig ovis that sy
fre m0 longer exsmas, “UN oll ar ge Tri electiee mesnings that
‘Salil the souctores which organize ca action

‘efor ate oni -calecy stable eele-apeafe understandings end
sexpett iy but solhy partsipatng in such enlsetse meanings Kent
{ior ace kerently relational. “asnaig. with fv appanprate aah of
Pehle salt, i alas ident within a specie, lly camstructed

Se OP Se Re ee ata
AEG GS Sis orton cae et tras
SU Tie (gE a Rea ar ater
bee hee i wr co Berra Sing Sates ard
sett 4 Spi Intent Saou! Pclige Mace on de Bac. SH) ed Tn,
‘ese pha ate Wot wl iy Con casos
29% _tneraational Ceganication

wwoekt Peer Rengsr atgise? Faeh person hat many iene linked ro
insivinal toe, eich 48 broehey, son, teacher, and often. Sinan. a ate
brag have multiis idonces ae “Sowers.” “leader nf the free world?”
petal pow,” and 0 on.> ‘The eommicmen 10 and the sence of
patccular donates vary, but ench ently a ere social efit of
the cir gsounded in the thowriee shia actors cullectvely bold abot
themselves und one another aad which cumtuute Lue sizutare of ie suc
‘vor

donsties are the bass of floroals, Actas do nol have x “perio” af
fntorests that hey carey row hudepeadeu! of social cumtet iste Urey
define ther iulereas ia the provers of cin sitoations,” As Nefwun Boats
pie “Bhpivtion vs, eal] to the Vegi se bu ing +
oacicpant in tus angedng chee n-nkish Ie nena ke Wil
Satine = prolorti italicn a8 eang fa the pe-formancs af & paticlat
Su, wilt mies br ese aniepata somssninaicns and snotequenses, and
Sherchy his orgatiyn releaset the ona‘gy appropriate th performing i=
Semnesinse stustions ars wnprestteted in ok experienes, a in cose cases
swe hate to construct dei nsaning and thas que ingcrest, by au alogs oF eR
Them de nove. More often thes hive routme quelitie ia which we ds
meanings un the babs of wstiliogslly dined soles, Waem we say Uhl
prolesurs hive sa “unereet” in facing, resesnchs or pitt Kap, i
yng hal Uo felon fv the ee deity gf rates” thoy hase Aine
‘ivlain stating a calling for setainasrone, Tie does na mean that Psy
Will nocestrily dy sp feapeciarions and eompotenes da nee xual peter
Fronts, fa i hey a he wl ae get terse. The ahence a airs of
nhs makes Asfining slvatians And iatessts mre acu, and idntiy

2. Ber “dst Mba ts Serf Noo" A
TASS rap Wake ee, As aed Pen Pe ec am: Ns
(Siete Nt vee ee a Caan sarn

Pecteah gcc

age nay
Avavsty 399

confusion ay sett Thi sms ta bs happeringeoday in the United States
sin he Toner Seti Cio: wihout che old ears mutual stb ons ol
"hal an Tt to define cei donee, these stares soem uasace of wal
fei “ieorer afoul be.

‘An insttion isa tcladvolysteble soc or "stucture™ uf ideas and
intoreste Such atustares aro often coded in lanl ules sl norms, bul
‘eee nave maecvational Farce ony en vieue of acon’ sacaivation hr aa
partcpation in vllective Lnowlelge, Inline unlanertaly sgn
lites ea Jamu ex pan rum lor king boat how the wo
This does cat teat Tb itunes ast fea objosrvy rat Sy are
“nating bul” belie ax cen. kopwledgs, hoy ate cxpericnced a having
agentes “ower ame above Che indus whe happen ta embody them at
UGermmnsat "inehiewss, intianiansenms enatnne individuals amir OF
less anor sell fr, fe hare a Ranetion of what cers ellel vee
Skye” Léentiis af ah clisads cagnons do nat ext apart fom each
hee they are “manuals constitutive.” <n this vie mtu onalcaion fs
roses of incrmairing nos dont und insreen, a something ucutting
hatede then and ufoeting uly Bebavor; vocation feu pases
ht just a behavioral ene. Conceived i sway, ais ey We xo
tre or comical, 2 point surmetines Jost un sebokushis ur iuferaatinsal
fogimen hich (ead lo equate snails will uoupersien. Tho-e are
import clulerenees betweea coxflial sel wget insitrions ts
site bu all elute slable sell oir selon even dase of “ouzmies—
ee debe intersubjectively.

Selblelp& amvtitution, ae af vadiausstacturss of identi and Inset
at may esis ter amare. Procewas nf identr-formtinn under anarchy
are eanccrned fst and foremost with preservation or "sccriy” of the sell
Chneagns nf scourty chreturedifer =n the eater o which ul Uke puaruer i
‘which the sf scat cognitively wih Ue ber" a, La 1 sigue i

‘Shane her thins today mos cline gio ta wad
{igta nie Apseach tie Sd of Trend Retro Thee Pein Ee aul
eget, Te Son Canemenen of Ree p28