Session 18- Norms: A Social Construction

The reading by Martha and Kathryn elaborates on the idea of constructivism. The theory of constructivism says that events emerge through a social and historical process. Moreover, it challenges the typical realist view that there is anarchy in the international system which determines the actions of states.

 However, the important question is that what are norms? Martha and Kathryn put forward the idea of ‘the norm life cycle’. This cycle includes three stages through which norms emerge.

The first stage is called ‘norm emergence’. This theory of norm emergence helps to explain collective behavior and claims that norms emerge through a process of social interaction in which people refer to others for cues and symbols indicating various possibilities of socially accepted behaviors.

The second stage is referred to as the ’norm cascade’. Under a norm cascade, the number of norm supporters increases quickly. This happens when there is a change in the behavior of members to adjust to the change in social trends that alter a particular norm in society. This stage reflects upon the bandwagoning effect that prevails amongst states. If there is a change in the foreign policy structure of one state, other states would follow suit in order to adjust to the changes caused within the international environment.

The last stage is called ‘internalization’. This process takes place when individuals have accepted the norms and see them as the right way of living hence it is said that they have internalized these norms. Even if there is no formal structure to guide them, they would still follow the norms of society due to the process of internalization. Hence there states would find it difficult to escape from these norms because they are deeply embedded in them.

Therefore, it can be said that the behavior of states cannot be isolated from the norms and values that it posses because to a certain extent norms do determine the actions of states. Just like it is possible for states to act selfishly or base their actions on the anarchic systems, it is also possible for states to be influenced by the norms of the international system.