Norms in the contemporary world system are no longer established exclusively through inter-state agreement but increasingly, are becoming truly global. This is made possible by the rapid privatisation of law and the self-regulation of the transnational private sector. Other forces driving this epochal transformation are the overwhelming pre-eminence of the United States, the erosion of the role of the United Nations, and the appearance of new actors such as subnational entities and NGO’s. They all contribute to the creation and ideological justification of new norms. This collection brings together critical studies on this complex process. Written by authors from eleven different countries, both established scholars and young specialists, the book challenges the often convenient rationalisations of regime theory, the governance approach, and ‘post-national’ or ‘cosmopolitan’ democracy, in order to explore the practical, theoretical and ethical implications of the new world of global norms.

Norms play an important role in the functioning of the U.S. Congress. The first book-length treatment of the topic in over fifteen years, A Social Theory of Congress addresses what are norms, what congressional norms exist, and what effects norms have, and adds a new theoretical perspective to consider Congress.

Simon Reich presents an interpretation of the relationship between material (hard) and social (soft) power, with implications for the alternative ways these link and the impact of these linkages on the future of American policy. Global Norms offers a new way of understanding both theory and policy in the 21st Century.

American culture is changing, a sentiment echoed in phrases such as “the new normal,” and “in these uncertain times,” that regularly introduce all forms of public discourse now, signally a national sense of vulnerability and transformation. Cultural shifts generally involve multiple catalysts, but in this collection the contributors focus on the role changing discourse norms play in cancel culture, corporatism, the counter-sexual revolution, racialism, and a radically divided political climate. Three central themes arise in the arguments. First, that contemporary discourse norms emphasize outcomes rather than shared understanding, which support institutional and political goals but contribute to the contemporary political divide, and the notion that we are engaged in a zero-sum game. These discourse norms give rise to a form of Adorno’s administered world, such that we order society according to dominant opinions, which generally means those well acclimated to institutional and corporate culture. Finally, as Arendt feared, the personal has become political, meaning that the toxic public discourse invades private discourse, reducing personal autonomy and leaving us perpetually under the scrutiny of institutional authority.

The key challenges of globalization are diffuse and outside the control of any one state. In its most ambitious and forward looking form, global governance seeks to create an international social fabric, albeit imperfect, which cumulatively, amounts to more than the sum of its parts. Global Governance in the Twenty-first-century aims to open a number of new areas for further analysis, and in particular, to begin a process of cross-fertilization between different disciplines examining issues related to global governance.

In the freshest new international law text in 20 years, Christopher C. Joyner offers a critical assessment of international legal rules in the early 21st century as they are applied by governments to the real world. Looking at concepts and principles, processes and critical problems, Joyner steers clear of an old-time case method approach, preferring to treat issues thematically. He shows the challenges of international law in terms of peace, security, human rights, the environment, and economic justice. Particular features of the book include engaging vignettes, clearly defined key terms, and special coverage of emerging topics including common spaces; international criminal law; rules, norms, and regimes; and trade relations and commercial exchange. Through it all, Joyner maintains an intent focus on the role of the individual in the evolving international legal order.

For courses in Social Problems or Global Issues. This volume integrates traditional sociological concepts and insights with an ecological awareness and applies it to the globalization process. It takes a dynamic view of globalization as an evolutionary process with a potential for unprecedented transformation of social structure and consciousness.