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

• Actors that try to do more than they can fail, while ones who try to maximize their power will win

  Example 9 11 . US no longer the leader of the world

  World is going through major international order shift after

• China economic rise

• India and other countries band together to go against world power (US)?

• 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

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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