Nicholas Onuf is best known for his influential book “World of our Making: Rules and Rule in Social Theory and International Relations ”, which in 1989 introduced the term “constructivism” to international relations, and being one of the early advocates of the concept. He was a visiting professor at the Institute for the spring 2011 semester which is now wrapping up.

Constructivism is one of the main schools of thought in international relations. The theory’s premise is that many elements of international relations are socially constructed rather than being guided by uncontrollable human nature or the nature of politics.

“Professor Onuf is indeed an influential figure in international relations and we were very lucky to have him”, said David Sylvan, Political Science/International Relations department head.

Coming to the Institute from California for four months to prepare a follow up book to “World of our Making”, Professor Onuf taught a course entitled Sovereignty, Intervention and Humanitarianism as well as one called Worldmaking. “Over the years I wanted to provide some philosophical support for the theoretical enterprise of constructivism so I organised the Worldmaking course around the book I planned to write while in Geneva”, he said. The book, which will be published as “Essays in Social Theory and International Relations”, will be a compilation of Professor Onuf’s most influential pieces on constructivism. The book took shape in part through feedback from the students in the Worldmaking class, according to Professor Onuf . “Three quarters of the way through the semester, with the students help, I modified the plans for my book which I think will be a viable academic publication”.

Speaking of the Institute’s students, Professor Onuf said that it was rewarding to teach people with multidisciplinary backgrounds who are interested in big picture questions and ethical issues. “Professor Onuf’s class challenged to me reconsider my own points of view”, Jennifer Miksch Astrid, Master in International Affairs student, said. “He also showed a great interest in us as people”.

Along with trying to remove himself from his hometown distractions to concentrate on his book, Professor Onuf came to Geneva at the request of one of his former PhD students, Elisabeth Prügl, Deputy-Director at the Institute. “Having Professor Onuf teach here generated a lot of excitement among our students”, Elisabeth Prügl said. “His classes filled up rapidly and he brought a distinctive voice to our departmental seminars”.

Now that his appointment at the Institute is finished he will continue to teach part-time at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and will continue to write.

Each year, the Institute invites visiting faculty members to complement its programmes. In 2010 it welcomed 21 visiting professors and 14 visiting lecturers from prestigious universities (University of Bath, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, McGill University, Florida International University, University of St. Gallen and others), governmental institutions (European Central Bank), and international organisations (ILO, UNCTAD, WHO, WIPO).

Other articles on the Institute’s visiting faculty:
Ujjayant Chakravorty
Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou