(iPoster) Rhetorical Rejection, Costly Compliance: Adopting International Norms

• In Event: Poster Session: Human Rights & Issues in African Politics
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Human Rights

Abstract

This paper examines a paradox in international relations: why do some states comply with international norms while simultaneously rejecting them rhetorically? Existing literature often links norm acceptance to compliance or, conversely, rhetorical acceptance to evasion. However, this study highlights a less-explored dynamic—norm rejection paired with costly compliance. This phenomenon raises important questions about the stability and effectiveness of policies implemented under such conditions and what it reveals about international society's role in shaping state behavior.

Using Thailand’s anti-trafficking policies (2012–2017) as a primary case study, this paper argues that rhetorical rejection and substantive compliance are part of a strategic response by weaker states to manage competing pressures. Sovereignty-sensitive regimes rhetorically distance themselves from international norms to preserve domestic legitimacy while adopting costly policies to mitigate international scrutiny and material consequences. The findings are based on critical discourse analysis of official statements, international evaluations, and policy outcomes.

This study enriches the norms literature by introducing a typology that accounts for four distinct state responses: norm acceptance with compliance, rhetorical norm acceptance with evasion, norm rejection with non-compliance, and the less-studied rhetorical norm rejection with compliance. By focusing on weaker states under heightened international pressure, the paper sheds light on how sovereignty concerns and sensitivity to external demands shape these responses. This framework has broader implications for understanding the conditional stability of norm-driven policies and the evolving dynamics of global governance.

Author

• Akshita Aggarwal, George Washington University