The Social Constructivist Approach as an Instrument for Understanding the “Identity” Dimension of the EU Enlargement Process

The Social Constructivist Approach as an Instrument for Understanding the “Identity” Dimension of the EU Enlargement Process

BURAK, Begum

This study deals with the emergence of European Union (EU) enlargement process as a kind of common political identity formation. It can be said that, the case of EU points to the need to re-conceptualize the relationship between self and other in the international relations literature. The central argument of the study is that fundamental structures of international politics are social rather than strictly material and these structures shape actors’ identities and interests, rather than just their behavior. In this context the enlargement process of the EU can well be analyzed from a social constructivist perspective. Keywords: Social Constructivism, European Union, EU Enlargement, Identity, European Identity, National Interest.

Article
PeerReviewed

ISSN 2303-4564

International Burch University

2013-05-10

1501