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

Alexander Wendt's essay, "Anarchy Is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics," challenges the neorealist view that international anarchy inherently leads to a self-help system driven by power maximization and conflict. Wendt argues that anarchy, the absence of a superior authority among states, is not a fixed condition but is socially constructed through state interactions and shared ideas.12

Instead of power distribution being the sole determinant of state behavior, Wendt emphasizes that collective meanings, norms, and identities shape how states perceive each other and their interests. He suggests that states can evolve from competitive, self-interested relationships to more cooperative ones through shared practices and evolving understandings, thereby constructing a less conflict-ridden international system.23