Response/Assessment Paper #1
When Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for strengthening international diplomacy, he focused his speech on developing a strategy to bring about peace. Obama uses a liberal lens to garner more support from liberals and warn against preventable conflict but argues against it when justifying the occasional necessity of war. He then utilizes constructivist rhetoric to call attention to the shifts in thinking and idealistic views that occur rather than focusing solely on war and economics. Obama’s Nobel Speech talks about how violence is not needed to solve every conflict and emphasizes preventive measures to avoid war, invoking liberal support. Liberalism is based on the idea that the international system …show more content…
Liberalism assumes that people prefer cooperation over conflict, a major flaw in the theory (Lecture 4, 9/15/2015). History proves that many wars have begun over petty conflicts. In order to keep peace in today’s complex world, Obama discusses how “the world need[s] institutions to prevent another world war” (Obama 1). He uses antiwar rhetoric to appeal to liberal viewers and solidify his mission to bring about peace. His point is clear: without peacekeeping institutions in place, more wars would begin. Obama goes on to say that nations sometimes find “the use of force not only necessary but morally justified” (Obama 2). Because Obama is the President of a nation involved in war, he has to maintain a moderate stance on the issue. Obama attempts to justify his involvement in the Iraq war while condoning other wars by emphasizing that only some conflict is required. He pulls on ideas of sovereignty and America’s duty to protect its people, stating that militaries need a “clear mandate” (Obama 3). This idea of a mandate is similar to the article, “On Sovereignty,” which states that “the function of the sovereign state is to provide protection in exchange for obedience” (Slomp 59). Obama stresses how military force is crucial to stop nations from acting against the best interest of the United States, but the must have some approval form the people. He deviates from …show more content…
Constructivism focuses on social constructions that base reality on “The existence of social facts which are dependent on human agreement” (Jackson, McDonald, 107). Constructivists believe that society and ideals are socially constructed and a shared understanding of these meanings are more important than material gains (Lecture 5, 9/17/2015). In different countries, ideals under the same name can have wildly different connotations, so it is important to understand the context before analyzing terms. In Obama’s Nobel Remarks, he quotes John F. Kennedy to stress the importance “not [of] a sudden revolution in human nature but a gradual evolution in human institutions” (Obama 3). By quoting Kennedy, a popular political figure, Obama gains more credibility with the general public, particularly constructivists that would agree with this assessment. A gradual evolution is a constructivist idea because a change in thinking causes a tangible change in society. Society changes slowly and institutionally, as rapid changes do not often grow widespread or last. By focusing on the major theory of constructivism through his remarks, Obama broadens the context of his argument and the idealistic views that he
When Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for strengthening international diplomacy, he focused his speech on developing a strategy to bring about peace. Obama uses a liberal lens to garner more support from liberals and warn against preventable conflict but argues against it when justifying the occasional necessity of war. He then utilizes constructivist rhetoric to call attention to the shifts in thinking and idealistic views that occur rather than focusing solely on war and economics. Obama’s Nobel Speech talks about how violence is not needed to solve every conflict and emphasizes preventive measures to avoid war, invoking liberal support. Liberalism is based on the idea that the international system …show more content…
Liberalism assumes that people prefer cooperation over conflict, a major flaw in the theory (Lecture 4, 9/15/2015). History proves that many wars have begun over petty conflicts. In order to keep peace in today’s complex world, Obama discusses how “the world need[s] institutions to prevent another world war” (Obama 1). He uses antiwar rhetoric to appeal to liberal viewers and solidify his mission to bring about peace. His point is clear: without peacekeeping institutions in place, more wars would begin. Obama goes on to say that nations sometimes find “the use of force not only necessary but morally justified” (Obama 2). Because Obama is the President of a nation involved in war, he has to maintain a moderate stance on the issue. Obama attempts to justify his involvement in the Iraq war while condoning other wars by emphasizing that only some conflict is required. He pulls on ideas of sovereignty and America’s duty to protect its people, stating that militaries need a “clear mandate” (Obama 3). This idea of a mandate is similar to the article, “On Sovereignty,” which states that “the function of the sovereign state is to provide protection in exchange for obedience” (Slomp 59). Obama stresses how military force is crucial to stop nations from acting against the best interest of the United States, but the must have some approval form the people. He deviates from …show more content…
Constructivism focuses on social constructions that base reality on “The existence of social facts which are dependent on human agreement” (Jackson, McDonald, 107). Constructivists believe that society and ideals are socially constructed and a shared understanding of these meanings are more important than material gains (Lecture 5, 9/17/2015). In different countries, ideals under the same name can have wildly different connotations, so it is important to understand the context before analyzing terms. In Obama’s Nobel Remarks, he quotes John F. Kennedy to stress the importance “not [of] a sudden revolution in human nature but a gradual evolution in human institutions” (Obama 3). By quoting Kennedy, a popular political figure, Obama gains more credibility with the general public, particularly constructivists that would agree with this assessment. A gradual evolution is a constructivist idea because a change in thinking causes a tangible change in society. Society changes slowly and institutionally, as rapid changes do not often grow widespread or last. By focusing on the major theory of constructivism through his remarks, Obama broadens the context of his argument and the idealistic views that he