Dr Anette Stimmer

Dr Anette Stimmer

Lecturer

Researcher profile

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 1779
Email
as679@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Research areas

I study international norms and organizations. One strand of my current research focuses on how (social, legal and moral) norms, taboos, and personal principles affect decision-making in international relations. Empirically, I am studying decision-making on gender-based violence, sex trafficking, and military humanitarian intervention. The other research strand focuses on principal-agent relationships and delegation decisions in international organizations, particularly the UN Security Council. Concretely, one of my long-standing research interests is the relationship between the UN Security Council and the Ombudsperson of the 1267 sanctions regime; more recently, I have developed an interest in penholding dynamics. More generally, I seek to bridge divides between constructivist and rational choice scholars.
 
My prior research has treated norm contestation as a problematique to understand norm development in international relations. Specifically, I developed theoretical frameworks on processes and possible outcomes of norm contestation that can guide empirical research. My book (2025, CUP), The Politics of International Norms: A Rhetorical Approach, develops a typology of the different outcomes that norm contestation can have and discusses explanations for this variation in outcome. I look at contestation by the United States but also by less powerful actors such as international courts and small states. My case studies include high-stakes debates over maritime boundaries, the interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya and over the right to self-determination. 
 
For information on ongoing research projects, please consult my personal website.

Selected publications

  • A rhetorical approach to norm change

    Stimmer, A. & Bower, A., 18 Dec 2025, The Oxford handbook of norms research in international relations. Gholiagha, S., Orchard, P. & Wiener, A. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 225-236 12 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • How (de)legalization unfolds

    Stimmer, A. & Snidal, D., 11 Dec 2025, The Oxford handbook of norms research in international relations. Gholiagha, S., Orchard, P. & Wiener, A. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 273-285 13 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • Section 4: Norm emergence and change

    Bower, A. (Editor) & Stimmer, A. (Editor), 11 Dec 2025, The Oxford handbook of norms research in international relations. Gholiagha, S., Orchard, P. & Wiener, A. (eds.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 223-298 75 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Other contribution

  • The Oxford handbook of norms research in international relations

    Wiener, A., Gholiagha, S. (Editor), Orchard, P. (Editor), Bower, A. (Guest editor), Stimmer, A. (Guest editor), Lang Jr, A. F. (Guest editor), Ralph, J. (Guest editor), Sandholtz, W. (Guest editor), Zvobgo, K. (Guest editor), Moore, L. (Guest editor), Lantis, J. (Guest editor), Wunderlich, C. (Guest editor), Winston, C. (Guest editor), Fehl, C. (Guest editor), Rosert, E. (Guest editor), Zimmermann, L. (Guest editor), Lesch, M. (Guest editor), Glaab, K. (Guest editor) & Niemann, H. (Guest editor), 11 Dec 2025, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 716 p. (Oxford handbooks)

    Research output: Book/Report › Book

  • The politics of international norms: a rhetorical approach

    Stimmer, A., 20 Feb 2025, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Research output: Book/Report › Book

  • Open access

    The interaction of law and politics in norm implementation

    Stimmer, A., 1 Jun 2024, Contesting the world: norm research in theory and practice. Orchard, P. & Wiener, A. (eds.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 164-181

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • Open access

    Disentangling norms, morality, and principles: the September 2019 Brexit rebellion

    Stimmer, A. & Gliserman, J., Dec 2022, In: European Journal of International Relations. 28, 4

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Beyond internalization: Alternate endings of the norm life cycle

    Stimmer, A., 2019, In: International Studies Quarterly.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Star Wars or Strategic Defense Initiative: What's in a Name?

    Stimmer, A., 2019, In: Journal of Global Security Studies.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • The dynamics of dissent: when actions are louder than words

    Stimmer, A., 2019, In: International Affairs.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

 

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