Intersubjectivity (Christine Porcaro, Week 8, Reflective)

I really like aspects of the constructivist theory. The assumption of interest and identity, for me, has fulfilled some void of explanation that other theories have not done thus far. Today in class we talked about how when the self characterizes the other it in turns characterizes the self. I feel that the constructivist view of identity and interest creates such a dynamic view of the international system. When relating this to present day with the US in Iraq one can see intersubjectivity at work. The US invasion of Iraq was looked at by the US as necessary so that Iraq could be ridded of Saddam Hussein and to find weapons of mass destruction. That would not however be the end of the “virtuous mission” as the US is trying to establish a stable democracy. The US perceives itself as “the good guy” in the international system and that is why it acts in this way. What makes it interesting is that the perception of these actions by other states is not the same as the perception that the US has for itself. With this said then, the US cannot be the “good guy” because the actions of the US has to be acknowledged as such for it to be legitimate. I find this way of viewing the international system very interesting. Nothing is static and where a lot of times things are just generalized such as state interests, this theory seems to give more of a description and a variety of reasons for why things are the way they are