THE RECONSTRUCTION OF EUROPEAN POLITICAL AND PUBLIC SPHERE THROUGH A CONSTRUCTIVIST PARADIGM

Abstract

The field of international relations was oncedominated by the discourseof the Realist school, which constructedand interpretedglobal events from the lens of powerpolitics. Such a construction is true for Europe, given its long history of interstate conflicts and warfare. Thetwoworld warsand innumerable preceding wars testify this fact. Nearing the end of the World War II, liberal idealism resurfaced on the global political landscape, as states were struggling to consolidate peace. The emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers was a bitter reality which the European powers had toaccept. The European states were left with little or no option than to submit to the predominance of thetwo global powers. This new development brought in its wake the American consumerist culture into Europe, besides its military presence.