Commonsense Constructivism, Or, The Making of World Affairs

Ralph Pettman

2000-01 · M.E. Sharpe

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This engaging book presents an intriguing new approach to understanding world affairs.

"Constructivism" first found its way to IR -- the field of international relations -- in an exceptionally demanding form. This book is quite the opposite. In a highly readable and witty way, Commonsense Constructivism, or the Making of World Affairs, makes clear how everything around us (IR included) is constructed.

In the process, it also shows how narrow the standard IR approaches are, and how much we miss as a consequence. Ralph Pettman's conceptual framework of state-making, wealth-making, self-making, and mind-making allows us to see such notions as "globalization" in a revealing new light.

This work is intended to be fully accessible to students, but it will be welcomed by anyone who has been mystified by constructivism -- or who simply wants to better understand the ways we understand our world.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: Commonsense Constructivism

1. Making World Affairs

I. THE NEGLECTED ASPECTS OF THE DISCIPLINE

2. Making Modernity

3. Making Sovereign Selves, Social Collectives, and Nations

II. THE DOMINANT ASPECTS OF THE DISCIPLINE

4. Making States and Making Markets

CONCLUSION: A Constructed World