Rochelle Terman, University of Chicago

Abstract: What factors promote the politicization of global norms? While enforcement or “shaming” can be costly, states also collect social benefits by defending international norms and stigmatizing offenders. As a result, geopolitical relationships shape patterns of norms enforcement, their effect becoming more pronounced as the political costs associated with a given norm increase in severity. To evaluate this argument, we examine patterns of normative pressure in the most elaborate human rights enforcement process in the international system: the UN Universal Periodic Review. We find that geopolitical adversaries are more likely to shame each other on sensitive issues that undermine the target regime’s status and legitimacy, while friendly states tend to address safer topics. Our findings unveil an inherent trade-off between the politicization of norms and weak enforcement: When international norms become stronger and the consequences attached to violations grow more severe, the incentives driving politicization intensify.