Contested Compliance: Interventions on the Normative Structure of World Politics

European Journal of International Relations

46 Pages Posted: 28 Aug 2010

See all articles by Antje Wiener

Antje Wiener

Universität Hamburg; University of Cambridge, Hughes Hall; Centre for Sustainable Society Research (CSS)

Date Written: April 1, 2004

Abstract

This article argues that ‘contested compliance’, i.e. a situation in which compliance conditions are challenged by the expected norm followers, offers an empirical access point for studying changes in the normative structure of world politics. It conceptualizes the normative structure as the ‘structure of meaning-in-use’ that works as a reference frame for decision-makers. The argument builds on a distinction between type, category and meaning of norms. In addition, the article distinguishes between a behaviorist approach to the impact of regulative and constitutive norms on state behavior, and a reflexive perspective on the impact of discursive interventions on the formative structure of world politics. The intention of the argument is twofold. First, it addresses the puzzle of good norm following despite increasingly contested norms, e.g. regarding the European Union’s accession criteria, on the one hand, and the United Nations Security Council resolution 1441, on the other. Second, it draws on and develops further the input of reflexive sociology on International Relations theory.

Suggested Citation

Wiener, Antje, Contested Compliance: Interventions on the Normative Structure of World Politics (April 1, 2004). European Journal of International Relations, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1666699 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1666699

University of Cambridge, Hughes Hall ( email )

Trinity Ln
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
United Kingdom

Centre for Sustainable Society Research (CSS) ( email )

Von-Melle-Park 5
Hamburg, 20146
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://https://www.wiso.uni-hamburg.de/en/fachbereich-sowi/professuren/wiener/team/wiener-antje.html

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