Social Theory of International Politics (Cambridge Studies in International Relations, Series Number 67)

Already one of the classic works on the theory of international relations.

This is an important book of constructivism. The good things are that: (1) Wendt seeks to find some common ground for radical criticism and mainstream scientific rationalism, so the book is not typically something that topples your common sense. (2) Wendt provides a nice summary himself to make his points clear. (3) He indeed has some good points about how perception works in international politics.

I got it for a class, but the book was actually very interesting

It's an important work on IR and a "standard on graduate reading lists", as Keohane recommended it. But as a Professor of IR Theories, I always find it difficult for my students to read and have to summarize it for them, then risk to oversimplify it, beaucause the Wendt's approach is too philosophical. A must-read difficult to read!There is still a small problem: its cover start to degrade over around a half of year of (normal, not intensive) use. It's obvious that the material quality of the book isn't paid enough attention to, perhaps because the constructivism Wendt took is idealistic!

Great!

Great

Alexander Wendt's "Social Theory of International Politics" is probably the most important book for the field of International Relations since Keohane's "After Hegemony." For that reason alone it is worth the read. In the early chapters Went carefully justifies his epistemology and examines if his constructivist theory really is "ideas all the way down." Later, he includes his view of the role of institutions, peace and conflict, and change within the international system. It is a comprehensive view of the constructivist ideology. Although I believe Wendt's discussion of institutional change is probably the weakest part of the book, it is still an overall compelling and engaging argument.

Judging by the titles that overlap purchases of this book, it would appear that most readers thus far have been of the sympathetic variety.If so, it is a shame. This book deserves a wide audience. Wendt engages competing approaches with a rare sincerity. Arguing with what may be called frightening rigor, Wendt endeavors to carve a "via media" between the (falsely posed) choices of rationalism and constructivism.The extent to which he succeeds will largely be played out in ongoing debate. And this book certainly seems designed to provoke it. Wendt's defense of scientific realism - "I am a positivist" - will not sit well with some.Therein lies its greatest potential contribution: rescuing constructivism from itself. Students with substantive interests in, for example, environmental politics have long been wary of "ideas all the way down" approaches to International Politics. At least this student feels that it gives the lie to "radical" constructivism.In brief summary, those who suspect that there may be a place in IR theory for both constitutive and causal understanding will find this text to be a powerful ally.