A Dialogue between Structural Realism and Wendt’s Constructivism:Integrating System-Structure and Culture-Logic Approaches
Author: Hao-chun Tang
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
This article re-examines Wendt’s constructivism from the perspective of revised realism. The author’s perspective is different from traditional structural realists in that I argue the effects of structure to units or units to structure will change during the periods of system formation, stability, transformation and collapse. The author accepts that the “culture” of a system does affect actors, but at the same time also insists that the “distribution of capabilities” as a variable cannot be ignored. We should consider both “culture” and “distribution of capabilities” when we examine factors related to system structure.
The author identifies the relations among structure, system, and culture in Wendt’s constructivism from the perspective of realism, and finds that the Lockean system largely overlaps with the balance-of-power (BOP) system. Given that Hobbesian and Lockean culture are distinct from each other, and that the Lockean system is largely overlapping with the BOP system, if Wendt regards “culture” as “system” in a general way, than we can deduce that there could be a multi-polar system that is largely independent from the BOP system. Following the language of Wendt, the author names this system as the “Hobbesian System”.
By using Wendt’s constructivism to deduce the distinctiveness of the “Hobbesian System” and the BOP system, the author analyzes the structural differences between these two systems, while also pointing out that Wendt’s constructivism has its limits in interpreting the realist tradition’s hierarchical system and bipolar system.
Finally, author examines the possibility of integrating the system approach of realism and the cultural approach of Wendt. In distinguishing between Hobbesian culture and Lockean culture, the author also distinguishes the Hobbesian system from the BOP tradition of realism. Revising the theory of Morton Kaplan, author argues that there are four ideal types of international systems: the hierarchical system, the bipolar system, the BOP system, and the Hobbesian system.