EN
The constructivist approach is among the most popular in the international relations and particularly useful in the analysis of the European integration processes. It allows a broad analysis of participants’ preferences, motives and interests in international cooperation. States and international organizations develop collective identities within processes of communication and deliberation. Constructivism helps to understand those processes and their infl uence on making and developing international law. Constructivism is also used as a legitimizing approach, especially in the context of difficulties in the validation of the activities of international institutions at the supranational level. It offers alternative concepts to the traditionally understood democratic legitimacy