Research Training Group World Politics RTG 2225

My project analyzes the changing role of small state and middle power norm entrepreneurship in the current political context of the global reordering and renegotiation of international norms. It specifically focuses on the norm forerunners Canada, Denmark and Sweden and assesses their diplomatic practices related to establishing and defending the human security norms of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and Protection of Civilians (PoC). Particularly in current times of liberal world order crisis, norms like R2P and PoC are renegotiated due to a lack of great power support; with the United States withdrawing from its leadership role. It is unclear how those norms will develop and to what extent former norm entrepreneurs can defend them at the United Nations. Against the backdrop of this reordering the research asks the question: How and to which effect do small states and middle powers practice human security norm entrepreneurship in times of crisis and decreasing great power norms-engagement? To answer this question, the project connects to and builds upon scholarship regarding (1) the role of the 'lesser power' typologies (small states and middle powers) to understand their motivations, and (2) IR constructivism, namely for assessing the role of norm entrepreneurs in the norm life cycle, especially when such norms might be stagnant.

• Knapp, A. and Fritzler J. (forthcoming). ‘Soft contestation of the Responsibility to Protect? Assessing Canada and Sweden’s norm diplomacy.’ In: Ducci, C, Lantis, J. S., Wunderlich, C., and Lucenti, F. (eds.), Contestation in Prism. Patterns of norm evolution, consolidation, and decay, Springer book series ‘Norm Research in IR’.
• Fritzler, J. (2024). ‘States’ Framing of Mass Atrocity Crimes: From Introducing to Preserving the Responsibility to Protect’. In: Isakova, A., Neuwinger, M., Schulze- Waltrup, R., and Uraiqat, O. (eds.) Global Challenges in World Politics. London: Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003452348
• Fritzler, J. (2023). ‘R2P Niche Diplomacy and Norm Development in Times of Politicization: A Look at Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden’, Nordic Journal of Human Rights. Advance online publication (04 Dec 2023). https://doi.org/10.1080/18918131.2023.2284490

• ‘International Studies Association (ISA) Annual Convention’, San Francisco, California, USA [in-person conference], April 2024, two paper presentations: (1) Can small states save liberal norms when the rules-based international order is challenged? Assessing Danish UN-diplomacy in support of the Responsibility to Protect, and (2) R2P-Niche Diplomacy and Norm Development in Times of Politicization: A Look at Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden; one participation in a roundtable titled Small States in a Very Big World: The Challenges of Foreign Policy in a Shifting International Order.
• Fritzler, J. (2023). ‘R2P-Niche Diplomacy and Norm Development in Times of Politicization: A Look at Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden’. Paper presented on the panel ‘International Organisations and Atrocity Prevention: Norms, Ethics and Duties’, 16th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, 05–09 September, Potsdam, Germany.
• Fritzler, J. (2023). Roundtable participation: ‘Contestation in Prism. Patterns of norm evolution, consolidation, and decay’ , 16th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, 05–09 September, Potsdam, Germany.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘Preserving the R2P-momentum: States’ Continued Framing of Mass Atrocity Crimes’. Paper presented at the Annual Retreat of the Institute for World Society Studies (Bielefeld University), 10-11 November, Bad Salzuflen, Germany.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘Preserving the R2P-momentum: States’ Continued Framing of Mass Atrocity Crimes’. Paper presented at the RTG workshop: “Global Challenges in World Politics: Discourses, Actors and Outcomes", 06-07 September, Bielefeld University.

• Fritzler, J. (with Uraiqat O. and Isakova A.) (2022). Organisation of the RTG workshop: “Global Challenges in World Politics: Discourses, Actors and Outcomes”, 06-07 September, Bielefeld University.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘Small State Norm Engagement in Times of World Order Crisis -Mapping Support of Human Security Norms by Denmark and Sweden at the UN’. Paper presented at the 15th Pan-European Conference on International Relations: “Norm Entrepreneurs and Spoilers”, 01–04 September, Athens, Greece.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘R2P-Niche Diplomacy and Norm Development in Times of Politicization: A look at Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden’. Paper presented at the virtual workshop on ''Small States and R2P at the United Nations'', 29-30 May, University of Southern Denmark, online.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘Small State Norm Engagement in Times of 'World Order Crisis' -- Mapping Support of Human Security Norms by Denmark and Sweden at the UN’. Paper presented on the panel ‘It’s a Small (State) World After All: Small States in Times of Contestation’, International Studies Association Annual Convention 2022, 28 March - 02 April, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘Preserving the Global Challenge-Momentum: Norm Entrepreneurs’ Framing of Challenges in Support of Norms’. Paper presented on the panel ‘Introducing ‘Global Challenges’ to a Small World: Actors, Discourses and Practices’ International Studies Association Annual Convention 2022, 28 March - 02 April, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

• Fritzler, J. (2022). ‘Preserving the Global Challenge-Momentum: Norm Entrepreneurs’ Framing of Challenges in Support of Norms’. Paper presented on the panel ‘Atrocity Crimes and Human Rights Tools', CCNY’s Second Critical Perspectives on Human Rights Conference, 20-22 April, New York, New York, USA.

• Fritzler, J. (2021). ‘Preserving the “Global Challenge”-Momentum: Norm Entrepreneurs’ Framing of “Challenges” in Support of Norms’. Paper presented at the RTG Workshop ‘Global Challenges in World Politics: Discourses, Actors and Outcomes’, 14 December, Bielefeld University, online.

• Fritzler, J. (2021). Participation in the virtual research seminar on Nordic security policy. Paper presented ‘Small State Norm Entrepreneurship in Times of “World Order Crisis”’, co-hosted by the Centre for Advanced Security Theory (CAST), University of Copenhagen, and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI),10 November, online.

• Fritzler, J. (2021). Participation in the virtual ECPR Joint Sessions of Workshops ‘European Small States in International Organisations – Strategies, Preferences and Adaptation’. Paper presented ‘Small State Norm Entrepreneurship in Times of “World Order Crisis”’, 17-23 May online.
• Fritzler, J. (2021). Participation in the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam  virtual Graduate Winter School course 'Qualitative Analysis: from Interviews to Results', 11-15 January, online.