Conformity discourse in the issue of international integration: Between realism and liberalism

Abstract

The inherent contradictions of the modern world order prompt researchers to seek interpretations for some of their manifestations beyond traditional discourses. The article proposes to examine the concept of international integration through the lens of the conformity discourse, since it is possible to describe such a complex process of today’s integration of sovereign states only within the interdisciplinary approach. The theory of axiological ontologism plays a crucial role in unfolding the conformity discourse within the realm of the sociology of international relations. Guided by this theory, researchers have the opportunity to transpose the concept of conformity from social psychology into the subject area of the sociology of international relations. This transposition leads to a shift in the semantics of the concept: conformity might be interpreted as the inclination of a nation state to reshape its values and change a behavioral strategy on the world stage under the pressure of the “international community”. However, it is essential to take into account that different theories of international relations make it possible to appeal to various conformity discourses. According to the author, the normative conformity aligns more with neorealism, since this theory considers actors of world politics to be engaged in integration processes based on the political environment, without being prone to sacrificing their interests for the sake of symbolic “unity”. The discourse of informational conformity is advisable to be developed from the standpoint of neoliberalism, which regards actors of world politics as assimilating values of the “international community” and accepting them through repetitive integrational practices.

Keywords

• international relations
• sociology of international relations
• international integration
• neorealism
• neoliberalism
• conformity discourse
• axiological ontologism