Agency of the governed in global international relations: access to norm validation

Abstract

This article analyses two requirements that distinguish research on the ‘agency of the governed’: a better concept of ethics and moral values, and a better understanding of the effect of norm-generative practices. To operationalise empirical research on the conditions for, and effect of, the norm-generative agency of the governed, it discusses the crucial issue of local stakeholders’ access to regular negotiations about norms. This includes the interpretation of regulations, treaties and conventions, which affect local decisions, as well as contestations of norms, which affect national, regional or global politics. It is argued that it is vital to identify the conditions of access to contestation, given the norm-generative effect of such practices of interpretation and contestation. Who enjoys access to contestation and how to establish regular access are therefore identified as important factors in having agency in global international relations. This article distinguishes between reactive and proactive contestation and presents the cycle model of norm validation to illustrate how the agency of the governed can be better researched.