Brown Bag Events

We are delighted to invite you to the book talk with Anette Stimmer (St Andrews) about her book,The Politics of International Norms: A Rhetorical Approach (Cambridge University Press, 2025). 

Elvira Rosert will be the discussant kicking off the Q&A.

This event is open to colleagues, students, and everyone interested in norms research.

Please register here: https://uni-hamburg.zoom.us/meeting/register/taTAKBccSJ2erwSJrcISJw 

Anette Stimmer’s recently published book ‘The Politics of International Norms: A Rhetorical Approach’ (Cambridge University Press, 2025) sheds light on the effect episodes of contestation can have on norm strength. By using insights from rhetorical theories, she shows that it matters what norm elements are contested. Disagreements on the norm frame (e.g. over whether ‘due process’ or the UN Security Council’s prerogative prevails) tend to involve more uncertainty about the international community’s expectations than narrower disagreements on the behavioural claim (e.g. whether an Ombudsperson or an international court shall safeguard due process). The greater the uncertainty about what the international community considers appropriate, the weaker the norm. Furthermore, the book explains how three classical elements of rhetoric – speakers (including delegation to agents), argumentation and audience reactions – influence the duration of contestation and its outcome. The reactions of in-group members, for instance, are particularly influential for whether contested norm interpretations can be upheld. This rhetorical approach is applied to eight recent norm disputes, including the lead-up to the 2003 Iraq War, the 2011 No-Fly Zone over Libya, the South China Sea dispute, and contestation over the human rights of terror suspects. You can find more information about the book here.

Here ist the poster of the event. This event will be held in English. 

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