International Norms and Foreign Policy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

International norms exist as constraints on foreign policy, yet norms are also the product of the foreign policies of states and other actors. Research has demonstrated how norms restrain foreign policy choice and behavior, and even alter state conceptions of national interests. Other studies point to the weakness of norms in the face of national interests and state power. Others note that the meaning of norms and their obligations are often contested, leading to problems of norm violation and norm enforcement. As social constructions, an important consideration is how and when foreign policy promotes norms and norm diffusion in the broader international community.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalOxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2017

Keywords

  • Constructivism
  • Contestation
  • Foreign policy analysis
  • Identity
  • Norm life cycle
  • Norms

Disciplines

  • Political Science
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences

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