[2] In a review of Social Theory of International Politics in Foreign Affairs G. John Ikenberry argued that the first section of the book is a "winding tour" of constructivism's underpinning.

After this Wendt explores possible alternative "cultures" of international relations (Hobbesian, Lockean, and Kantian) a result of his view that anarchy does not necessarily mean that states must adopt egoistical self-help behaviour.

[4] In a review essay called "The Constructivist Challenge to Structural Realism" Dale Copeland argues from a structural realist perspective and states that Wendt fails to take into account how uncertainty impacts state behaviour: Notwithstanding Wendt's important contributions to international relations theory, his critique of structural realism has inherent flaws.

Most important, it does not adequately address a critical aspect of the realist worldview: the problem of uncertainty.

[6] As such it has been criticised from the position of more radical "thick" constructivists who give less ground to rationalist theories, like Roxanne Lynn Doty,[7] Stefano Guzzini,[8] Friedrich Kratochwill,[9] and Maja Zehfuss.