International Law Norms

This chapter studies the evolution of international law and international relations and argues that new developments in these state-centric disciplines support a culturally oriented approach to law and development. This is essentially an argument about the nature of the relevant disciplines—as international law and international relations have changed, so too should law and development. The chapter makes two primary points: First, international law should not be reluctant to embrace culture change at the domestic level. It provides a framework for understanding how international norms are transformed. Second, as custom and norms continue to change, international law and international relations have also changed. The chapter examines the ways international law and constructivist international relations scholars, for example from the New Haven School of international law, have expanded the international framework. Examples of norm change in international law are discussed, such as the eradication of slavery and the emergence of human rights.