The article shows that the current international system is changing towards a completely new form of international system, conceptualized as a multi-order system. The suggestion for a multi-order world stands in contrast to three current narratives about the future global order expressed through a multipolar narrative; a multi-partner narrative and a multi-culture narrative. The article demonstrates that although each narrative points to a plausible future, neither fully captures what lies ahead. Using English School concepts such as order, international society, international system and primary and secondary institutions, the article reveals a conception of the coming international system as a system consisting of several different 'orders' (or international societies) nested within an overall international system. In the coming 'multi-order world', the liberal order will continue, and may even be strengthened internally, but its global reach will be a thing of the past. Moreover, the challenge in a multi-order world will be to forge new forms of relationships between composite and diverse actors across complex lines of division and convergence. Scholars and policy-makers should note that the coming multi-order world will be radically different, requiring new thinking and new institutions and the acceptance of diversity in both power and principle.
The article presents a model for the study of norms transfer through state socialization, which combines a Social Constructivist body of theory for ideational change with Social Identity Theory (SIT) for identity formation. The model privileges self- and other categorization processes which according to SIT takes place between all social groups, as the main determinant for the outcome of state socialization. By also reconceptualizing domestic structure into two separate we-groups; state/elite and nation/people, which may have different self- and other categorization dynamics, the model is able to not only account for the common occurrence of different outcomes of socialization in apparently similar cases, but is also able to take the mass domestic level into consideration. The question that is asked is therefore ‘why do the same norms matter so differently to apparently similar agents?’
Denmark. Her research focuses on international order and transformational change, NATO, European Security, the liberal international order (and its crisis), and transatlantic relations. Recent publications include "The Problem of Change in Constructivist Theory -Ontological Security Seeking and Agent Motivation" in Review of International Studies and "The Coming Multi-Order World" published in Contemporary Security Policy (2016) which was awarded the Bernard Brodie Prize.
Constructivism has a problem in accounting for agent-led change and for what motivates agents to make up their minds about how to put their agency to use. I show that constructivismÕs problem of change is related to tensions between constructivism's own key assumptions about the mutually constitutive relationship between structure and agency, understanding of change and to an essentialist conception of identity. I argue that agency is constituted through processes of ÔidentificationÕ involving identity and narrative constructions and performance through practice and action. I make the perhaps controversial move to regard ontological security as a precondition for agent-led change and to identify ontological security maximisation as functionally equivalent to rationalist theoriesÕ agent assumption of utility maximisation. I identify two strategies for maximising ontological security; a Ôstrategy of beingÕ to secure a stable and esteem-enhancing identity and a strong narrative; and a Ôstrategy of doingÕ to ensure cognitive consistency through routinised practice whilst also undertaking action contributing to a sense of integrity and pride. The article concludes that although humans are endowed with agency, their actual ability to utilise their agency is severely constrained by their need for maintaining ontological security, which may explain why change appears so difficult to achieve.Keywords: Narrative, Social Identity Theory, Agency, Practice, Ontological Security, Identity Bio: Trine Flockhart is Professor of International Relations in the School of Politics and InternationalStudies at the University of Kent. Her research focuses on change in the international system towards a Ômulti-order worldÕ and the effects on the current liberal international order, transatlantic relations and NATO. The Problem of Change in Constructivist Theory Ontological Security Seeking and Agent MotivationOne of the fundamental questions in International Relations is how to change the world into a better place. Yet, despite the normative aspirations to change dysfunctional, and often violent, practices, the IR discipline developed a widespread understanding that Ôthe internationalÕ was characterized by continuity and recurring patterns, and that the aspiration for making a better world, was an idealistic Ð even a utopian Ð project. The belief that change was unattainable became so ingrained in the discipline that when the Cold War ended, most had not even considered the possibility that such a change could take place 1 and some even questioned its theoretical relevance 2 . Moreover, change was seen as one of those intellectual nettles that would be better left alone 3 rather than as something that could be theorized, categorized and conceptualized or indeed used prescriptively 4 . Therefore when
By applying a combination of a social constructivist perspective on ideational change with theories of social learning and social identity, the article explains the gap in the Danish discourse on Europe between mass and elite. The Danish population is conceptualized as two differently constructed 'social groups' consisting of a nation people and a state-elite group. Each 'social group' has experienced different processes of ideational change and socialization and has developed different conceptions of interests and political preferences. Copyright Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2005.
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