Normative Theory
Normative theories define “good” decisions as ones that are most likely to provide the decision maker with desired outcomes, regardless of international norms
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Actors that try to do more than they can fail, while ones who try to maximize their power will win
World is going through major international order shift after
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China economic rise
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India and other countries band together to go against world power (US)?
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Uni polar world → Multi polar world
- Chaotic transition period: US tries to keep its leadership position
Some International Norms can be broken by strong states
- What types of international norms have been violated by Strong State ?
- Int’ law is only binding and important and perfect on paper, not in practice
- Strong states are violators of int norms/laws
- may get condemnation speeches from other states but don’t hurt them physically
- Int’ law is only binding and important and perfect on paper, not in practice
- The use of force/posession/use of nuclear weapons
- Why some can possess but some can’t? powerful can.
- Principle of Sovereingty or non-interferance
- R2P might be a excuse to why they have nuclear weapons
- They already posess it so why not use it and abuse it: no external power can stop another state’s government
- Principle of Sovereingty or non-interferance
- Why some can possess but some can’t? powerful can.
- UNCLOS: China claim 90% of South China Sea Dispute, claim of freedom of navigation
- Those who created or proposed the norm themselves, are sometimes violators of those norms
- Mostly violated norms to exploit against weaker states rather than ones that could negaltively affect their interests
- WTO rules: violated by almost everyone
What should be done when international norm is violated?
- other sates may not enter any agreement in the future with violator
- require changes or make up for violating the law for new agreement
- Problem: if powerful countries like US and China are main violators of norms, smaller countries would lose much more by not entering agreements with them because they violated.
- No one would be lead in enforcing rule of law/norms
- contradicts:: Realism reject importance of Norms because It’s in actors interests to violate them if its not in their interest.
- not to strictly stick to norms/laws
Note
International norms are violated during times of crisis and put ethics or moral issues first