The Politics of International Norm Adoption, Evolution, and (non)Compliance

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

This panel explores how legitimacy affects the political processes surrounding international norm adoption, evolution, and (non)compliance. It brings together a diverse set of scholars working from a variety of theoretical and empirical approaches to push the frontiers in the study of international norms. The papers on this panel challenge the conventional wisdom that: (1) Naming and shaming increases norm adoption and compliance; (2) Norms spread because of bottom-up activism and socialization by non-state actors; and (3) Shared norms (and the institutions based on those norms) form the basis of the liberal international order.

The first paper highlights the domestic sources of legitimacy. Terman argues that naming and shaming human rights violators may provoke a defensive reaction in the shamed state, whereby domestic audiences penalize leaders for complying with foreign norms and reward violators.

Three papers focus on the international or structural sources of legitimacy. First, two papers highlight the role of hegemonic leaders in promoting norm adoption and evolution. Gunitsky argues that hegemonic transitions shape norm evolution, as they alter the incentive structure and force a deep re-evaluation of norm legitimacy. Duque argues that norms spread following a logic of expressive rationality, whereby great powers act as standard-setters, and status-seeking states adopt norms to be considered "modern" or "civilized." Finally, Allan questions the notion that international orders are based on stable norms. He proposes that IR scholars should look instead at continuously reproduced routines, habits, and network structures, as well as conventions and legitimacy, to understand how international orders are maintained.

Sub Unit

• DIVISION 17: International Collaboration

Individual Presentations

• Beyond Rule: Conventions, Confidence, and Creativity in International Orders - Bentley B. Allan, Johns Hopkins University

• The Logic of Expressive Rationality - Marina Duque, Florida State University

• Rewarding Resistance: Theorizing Defiance of International Norms - Rochelle Layla Terman, University of Chicago

Chair

• Jennifer L. Erickson Boston College

Discussant

• Thomas Risse Freie Universität Berlin