International relations and the concentric hermeneutic circle: Wendt’s constructivism and the inevitability of circular interpretations

Abstract

AbstractThe nature of the hermeneutic circle was a contentious debate among philosophers in the early to the mid-20th century. A considerable number of academics have been against the idea of interpretation moving in a circular motion and the presence of presuppositions to generate finer interpretations due to the subjective bias it may cause. Nevertheless, this article attempts to revisit past debates on the hermeneutic circle to studying international relations, specifically, Wendt’s conception of constructivism. This article delves into the philosophical position of Wendt in the social construction of anarchy and social theory of international politics and finds commonalities to the philosophical stances of Heidegger, Gadamer, and Bultmann, related to the authenticity of interpretations that can be generated from being inside a hermeneutic circle. In defense of the hermeneutic circle and against the idea of it being a vicious circle, the arguments presented in this article are twofold; 1) Wendt’s intentional submersion into the hermeneutic circle of international relations, constructivism, and neorealism, and 2) Construction of concentric circles and the importance of intersubjectivity. It also contends that future inquiries of constructivism and international relations, in general, will not escape this hermeneutic circle, leading to the production of authentic interpretations of our international relations inquiries.

Keywords

• hermeneutic circle
• international relations
• constructivism
• philosophy