摘要：Uncertain changing global political and economic environment demands much of nations around the world to beprepared to deal with many unwelcome but related transnational issues. Although the global transformation has hadnegative impacts, it has provided impetus for states to be more cooperative within their regional areas, insofar asthey wish to deal with common issues and avoid interference from external actors. In this case theory is important.Theory created to act as a tool to better understand international phenomena has also transformed and expanded.The primary established theories regarding how international relations work, such as realism and neorealism, havefocused on power, national interests and international system, in explaining states’ behaviour. In the 1990s, thisview has been challenged by a newly emerging approach called social constructivism, which attempts to provide analternative theory focusing on ideas, norms, language, identity, culture and religion. More importantly, it attempts todefine international political governance, construction of identity, and national interest, in such a way as to transformour views of these concepts. This article argues that the action of a small state like Malaysia, being a member ofseveral multilateral institutions, e.g., the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Organization of IslamicConference (OIC), and Commonwealth, can be better understood by analysing it from a constructivism perspective.Tracing the history of Malaysia’s international relations, the article concludes that Malaysia’s identity as an IslamicState has become foundational in directing its foreign policies and its involvement in multilateral internationalorganisations
关键词：Constructivism; Malaysia international relations; ASEAN; Commonwealth; OIC
