Consequences & Intentionality

In his Making Sense, Making Worlds: Constructivism in Social Theory and International Relations, Onuf discusses the concept of rules and consequences. He asserts that rules make individuals into agents who, through acts and the social and material consequences of these acts, make the social reality of their world. I am intrigued by his discussion of the intentionality of consequences, wherein he says that through agents’ observation and acceptance of consequences, “such consequences are then no longer unintended in the usual sense of the word” (6). Agents may then pursue different acts to change said consequences, which may produce more consequences in turn. 

This idea of intentionality/un-intentionality in terms of consequences puts a whole new perspective on the concept of social reality. If social reality is determined by the consequences of agents’ actions, and agents are constantly in observation of said consequences (and have the ability to act according to said consequences), it does remove all sense of the term “unintentionality.” Though Onuf maintains that personal autonomy is limited by the (also limited) autonomy of others (20), his argument still seems to put quite a bit of emphasis on individual agency. An individual, in observing the consequences of action and inaction, then acts with full intentionality.

I'm trying to work through this in order to understand the consequences (no pun intended) of a lack of un-intentionality on international relations. Onuf clarifies that consequences are no longer unintended in the "usual sense of the word," so I don't believe he is assuming that agents act with full intention. I think it is rather that agents have the capacity to foresee consequences of their actions or, even if they cannot foresee them, can "accept" them after the fact and then base their actions on this observation. In this way, this concept seems tied to the "interests" box in the 2x2 model, as actions (either the first action or response) is carried out with some level of attention paid to the strategic environment.

Onuf, Nicholas. “Constructivism: A User’s Manual” in  Making Sense, Making Worlds: Constructivism in social theory and international relations. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013.