Social Practices of Rule-Making in World Politics

Rule-based global order is a central object of study in International Relations, and constructivists have identified mechanisms for reproducing and transforming rules, institutions, and regimes. This book explains how political actors know which procedural rules to engage in a particular context and when to utilize one mechanism over another. It argues that actors in world politics are simultaneously engaged in an ongoing social practice of rule-making, interpretation, and application and that practices of global governance are centrally concerned with making, interpreting, and applying rules. The book also demonstrates the utility of the approach for the study of global governance, the international system, and for emerging efforts to identify forms and sites of and hierarchy in world politics.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The study of international relations continues to be deeply rooted in the concept of a rule-based global order, which remains a central focus of inquiry. Constructivists have identified various mechanisms through which actors engage in the continuous reproduction and transformation of the rules, institutions, and regimes that shape their worlds. However, there is a need for greater clarity regarding the relationship between these mechanisms and how they interact with each other, particularly in terms of the rules governing the process of changing rules.

This book aims to address this gap by exploring how political actors determine which procedural rules to employ in specific contexts and when to utilize one mechanism over another. It argues that actors in the world of politics are simultaneously engaged in an ongoing social practice of rule-making, interpretation, and application. By identifying and elucidating this social practice, the book seeks to clarify why global norms change at particular moments and why certain attempts to alter norms may succeed or fail at any given time.

Mark Raymond examines four case studies to illustrate the complexities of rule-making and its impact on the international system. These cases include the social construction of great power management in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars, the establishment of a rule against the use of force except in cases of self-defense and collective security, the contestation of the international system by al Qaeda in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and the United Nations efforts to establish norms for state conduct in the cyber domain. Through these case studies, Raymond demonstrates that practices of global governance are fundamentally concerned with the making, interpretation, and application of rules.

The book further argues for the centrality of global governance in the study of the international system and its dynamics. It emphasizes the need to place global governance at the heart of our understanding of the world, recognizing its role in shaping global norms, institutions, and regimes. Moreover, the book showcases the utility of its approach for the study of global governance, the international system, and emerging efforts to identify forms and sites of governance in the contemporary world.

In conclusion, this book offers a valuable contribution to the study of international relations by exploring the mechanisms through which rules are created, interpreted, and applied in the global arena. It sheds light on the complex dynamics of rule-making and its implications for understanding the changing nature of the international system and the challenges and opportunities that arise in this context. By placing global governance at the center of our analysis, the book provides a framework for analyzing and understanding the complex dynamics of the world and its institutions.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 235 x 154 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197674864