The article deals with the evolution of constructivist paradigm of international relations. The issue is of utmost importance in terms of the search for theoretical alternatives in the IR thinking. First, we are giving basic introduction of constructivism on the basis of historical and hermeneutical approaches. There is no doubt that the paradigm has faced different theoretical challenges and a lot of critics which has to be addressed. The authors reconsider some constructivist theories and notions in Alexander Wendt’s works and the way Wendt tried to reinforce and reassure the constructivist paradigm. This allows us to claim that quantum turn in recent Wendt’s work was almost inevitable. Second, the article attempts to answer a question whether the fundamentals of quantum physics are relevant when speaking about social and political processes. At first glance, quantum physics approach has nothing in common with the theory of politics and the theory of international relations. However, there are some grounds to believe that certain problem issues of the political science and IR theory are not deadlocks. In the second part of the article we use the unleashed and underestimated potential of analytical philosophy. To conclude, we believe that today there are more questions than answers but the quantum paradigm is expected to be the important part of the political studies and IR theory as well.
Key words: constructivism, Quantum Mind, A. Wendt, IR theory, quantum physics, political ontology.
References
1. Alekseeva Т.А. Myslit' konstruktivistski: otkryvaya mnogogolosyy mir [To think in the constructive way: opening the dispersed world]. Sravnitel'naia politika - Comparative Politics, 2014, no. 1, pp. 4 – 21. (In Russian).
2. Giddens A. Giddens E. Novyye pravila sotsiologicheskogo metoda. Teoreticheskaya sotsiologiya. [The new Rules of Sociologic Method. In: Theoretical sociology.] Ontology. Vol. 2. Мoscow, Knizhnyi dom «Universitet», 2002, рp. 281 - 318. (In Russian).
3. Giddens A. The Constitution of Society: Outline of the Theory of Structuration. University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles. 417 p. (Russ. ed.: Giddens A. Ustroyeniye obshchestva: Ocherk teorii strukturatsii. 2d ed. Мoscow, Akademicheskii Proekt Publ., 2005. 272 p.)
4. Mead G.H. The Philosophy of the Present (Great Books in Philosophy). Prometheus Books, 2002. 202 p. (Russ. ed.: Mid Dzh. G. Filosofiya nastoyashchego. Ed. By А. I. Murphy; introduction by А. I. Murphy; introduction by Dewey J.; translated. V. G. Nikolaev, V. Y. Kuzminov; ed. by V.G. Nikolaev; conclusion by V. G. Nikolaev. Мoscow, HSU Publ., 2014. 272 p.)
5. Sevalnikov А.Y. Interpretatsii kvantovoy mekhaniki: V poiskakh novoy ontologii. [Quantum Mechanics Interpretation: Trying to fing the new ontology.] 2d ed. Мoscow, Lenand Publ., 2016. 192 p. (In Russian).
6. Shapiro I. Begstvo ot real'nosti v gumanitarnykh naukakh [Moving away from the reality in social sciences]. Transl. by D. Uzlaner. Мoscow, HSU Publ., 2011. 368 p. (In Russian).
7. Alker H.R. On Learning from Wendt. Review of International Studies, 2000, vol. 26, no.1, pp. 141 - 150.
8. Hollis M., Smith S. Beware of Gurus: Structure and Action in International Relations. Review of International Studies, 1991, vol. 17, no. 4, pp. 393 – 410.
9. Hopf T. The Promise of Constructivism in International Relations Theory. International Security, 1998, vol. 23, no. 1, pp. 171 – 200.
10. Morgan J. Philosophical Realism in International Relations Theory. Journal of Critical Realism, 2002, no. 1 (1), рр. 95 – 118.
11. Wendt A. Anarchy Is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics. Essential Reading in World Politics. Ed. by K.A. Mingst. J.L. Snader. 4th ed. New York, London: W.W. Norton&Company Publ., 2011. Pp. 64 – 88.
12. Wendt A. Quantum Mind and Social Science: Unifying Physical and Social Ontology. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2015. 366 p.
13. Wendt A. The Agent-Structure Problem in International Relations Theory. International Organization, 1987, vol. 41, no. 3, pp. 335 – 370.
The article is written with financial support of the Russian Humanitarian Science Foundation: Project № 16-03-00803.
