Banning the Bomb: The Politics of Norm Creation

by Siddharth Mallavarapu

On July 8, 1996, the International Court of Justice pronounced that the threat or use of nuclear weapons was “generally illegal.” The Court’s formal invocation of the language of “illegality” on a subject that was hitherto treated as largely within the realm of sovereign national discretion by the major nuclear powers marked a historic departure from the past delving into the genesis, proceedings and outcome of the advisory process. Banning the The Politics of Norm Creation participates in the ongoing debate on international norm creation between Realists and Constructivists in international relations scholarship. The author argues from a Constructivist provenance that it is critical to examine the role of international non-state coalitions in order to appreciate the broader political context. Well researched and rich in detail, this book will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of international relations, disarmament, and peace studies.

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2007