Constructivism and Agent-Structure Problem: Assessing the Triumph of Civil Rights Movement through the Global Practice of Civil Disobedience

This literature review explores the agent-structure problem within constructivism and critiques prior theories like realism, liberalism, and structuralism for their limitations in overlooking human complexities. Constructivism, influenced by Structuration Theory, offers a constitutive understanding of the agent-structure relationship, rejecting deterministic views. The empirical example of the Civil Rights Movement highlights how agents and structures co-determined outcomes. In essence, constructivism provides a more comprehensive framework, acknowledging the dynamic interplay between human agency and structural influences, enhancing our understanding of international relations and promoting context-sensitive analyses.