| The dissertation examines the influence of norms upon the use of force in international relations. Most contemporary approaches to this question misunderstand the complex nature of norms, which are neither simply products of the distribution of power in the international system nor abstract ethical imperatives that emerge from the cultural context of state action. A critical problem is that many theories proceed from assumptions that effectively divide international politics into geopolitical and normative spheres, one concerned with material power and the other with ethical goals. This misapprehends the ways in which these elements interact. and leads to a flawed understanding of both the role of normative factors in foreign policy and the ways in which power and interest shape the international system. Instead of viewing ethical norms and state interests as distinct and competing phenomena, I examine the manner in which each helps to shape the formulation, articulation, and development of the other. This approach allows us to appreciate that norms are often simultaneously products of power and sources of power, and that normative factors can be important structural influences on foreign policy.; The argument is developed in empirical case studies of norms governing the assassination of foreign leaders and the aerial bombing of civilians. Neither of these norms emerged from thin air. While rooted in moral concerns, they are also products of social and political processes. In each case, therefore, I trace the processes by which ethical imperatives, perceptions of interest, and structural systemic factors interact recursively in both the formation of the norm and its influence on states' actions. This approach, I contend, does a good job of accounting for apparent anomalies that other theories cannot easily explain.; The dissertation draws on several disciplinary perspectives--international relations theory, strategic and security studies, and normative theory--that are concerned with the role of norms in international politics, but seldom engage one another directly. The result is a view of norms that bridges gaps between competing theories and suggests a new perspective on the normative context of international politics. |
