Constructivists see organisations like the United Nations as places where they can study the emergence of new norms and examine the activities of those who are spreading new ideas.
Realists and liberals are divided when it comes to understanding why war exists, and what can be done about it.
Constructivists highlight the importance of values and shared interests between individuals who interact on the global stage, as well as social norms that bring them together.
The work of English school scholars draws attention to how international anarchy has its own unique type of order. After all, the world is not in a state of chaos despite its state of anarchy.
The liberal account of International Relations is an optimistic one that points towards a world of ever-growing peace and harmony, underlined by trade, diplomacy and international organisations.
When realists examine history they see a world that may change in shape, but is always characterised by a system of international anarchy that generates insecurity for states.
The approaches in IR theory each possess a legitimate, yet different, view. They offer a means by which to attempt to understand a complex and frequently changing world.
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