Identity and choice in international relations: A constructivist theory of agency and action

This dissertation advances a constructivist theory of agency and choice in international relations. It endeavors to not only advance theories which will enhance our understanding of agency at an ontological level but also our understanding of identity, rationality, and power, all of which are inalienable elements of agency. This theory seeks to explain the competing influences of identity and rationality on agent actions and choices in international politics.; It begins by arguing that due to ontological and epistemological dogmatism, the discipline of International relations was divided with rationalists at one end and interpretivists at the other. Arguing that Constructivism offers a middle path, this dissertation modifies constructivism to bridge the gap between rationalists and interpretivists. After developing the theory which elucidates in detail how identity influences agents to act symbolically, the dissertation develops a research design to employ both positivist as well as interpretivist research methodologies to empirically test it. The policy choices and actions of Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Jordan toward realization of their claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem serve as case studies for this project. The case studies vindicate the theoretical claims and bring optimism to the possibility of developing a truly interpretive social science that can bridge the ontological and epistemological divide between rationalists and interpretivists.