The mission of Good Authority, and previously the Monkey Cage, is not just to offer political science analysis of current events but also to share academic knowledge and understanding in formats that are easier to digest for students, policymakers, journalists, and others who have an interest in political science but who do not necessarily have the time or desire to read academic books and journals. For example, check out our Good to Know explainers and subject topic guides.
The latest addition to this effort will be a series of podcasts that explain key issues in political science to a broader audience. I cannot think of a better way to launch this series than this conversation with Martha Finnemore about the importance of norms in international affairs. Professor Finnemore is a University Professor of Political Science and International Affairs at the George Washington University. Together with Alex Wendt, she received the 2023 Johan Skytte Prize (the closest thing political science has to a Nobel Prize) for furthering our understanding of the role of norms in international affairs.
We talked about how she came to study norms, what norms are (and are not), how they develop, and why norms matter in international relations. Professor Finnemore discusses what the latest research reveals and how this matters for current issues like norms related to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. I’ve already added this podcast to my intro to international relations syllabus for fall 2024!
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