Taking stock of theories around norm contestation: A conceptual re-examining of the evolution of the responsibility to protect

Abstract

This research consolidates debates around the impact of international norm contestation and evaluates previous findings. It conceptualises a typology for norms and norm contestation and applies this framework to R2P to test its explanatory effectiveness. The typologies draw on work by Finnemore and Sikkink, as well as the applicatory versus justificatory discourse by Deitelhoff and Zimmermann and Wiener’s modes of contestation, amongst others. It also proposes additional factors such as the location of contestation as well as the commonalities of norm challengers. The recent conceptualisation around norm robustness is found to be only useful in evaluating the strength of norms.