Introduction

Constructivism, despite its growing influence in recent decades, has not contributed as much as it could to the debate about “the rise of the rest.” In order for constructivism to realize its potential and to elucidate this problem from a cognitive-normative angle, we need to (1) reformulate the concept of the international order from a constructivist viewpoint, (2) recognize how international norms produce social hierarchy, (3) recognize how states pursue status and self-esteem in the context of international social hierarchy, and (4) reexamine the way we think about changes in international order.