With this definition, the key actors of this approach are made up of the three levels of analysis present in the international system. Since the actors are the system, the state and/or the individual, there is no pre-established national interest. Rather, “the interest takes on the characteristics of the identities of the participants in the international system”. The social, cultural, and historical experiences and actions of system participants help determine whether the system is cooperative or conflictual. The international order is explained as a set of rules which is found in this study approach. These can be formal or informal rules, for example rules established in organizations or on the playground. Actors create these rules that from the structure of international order in constructivism. There are constitutive rules that “create systems of actions” and there are regulative rules that “control ongoing rules”. These rules can be sets of instructions called assertive rules or commands called directive rules. Assertive rules would be where nations step up and lead other nations. The directive rules are based on a hierarchical system like that of Nazi Germany which requires its territory to carry out certain tasks. Finally, there are commissive rules. This is based on a mutual system or contracts such as alliances with nations promising to join each
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