Event

This roundtable will reflect on the relevance of constructivist scholarship in a world shaped by great power competition, war, and security concerns. Key questions include whether geopolitics undermines or strengthens constructivist approaches, how concepts such as norms, identity, sovereignty, and legitimacy may need rethinking, and whether a more pessimistic constructivism is required today. The discussion will also address how scholars can engage policymakers who often default to materialist framings of international politics, and how constructivism might adapt, defend, or expand in response to shifting global dynamics.

The roundtable is part of the NUPI IR Theory Conference 2025. Physical participation is restricted to participants at the conference, but the roundtable is streamed live to NUPI's Youtube channel:

Speakers:

Rebecca Adler-Nissen

Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen

Kristin Haugevik

Research Director, Research Professor

Patrick Thaddeus Jackson

Professor and Chair, Department of Global Inquiry

Oliver Kessler

Professor

Nicholas Onuf

Professor Emeritus, Florida International University

Moderators:

Halvard Leira

Research Director, Research Professor

Morten Skumsrud Andersen

Senior Research Fellow