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After fragmentation: Norm collisions, interface conflicts, and conflict management

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title
International Law: More Like a Messy Room Than a Broken House

The study finds that norm collisions and institutional overlaps in international law do not inevitably lead to fragmentation or chaos. Instead, they frequently lead to cooperative forms of conflict management that generate inter-institutional order, though the normative quality of this order remains contested. The authors propose an 'interface conflict' framework for analyzing these dynamics.

Explain Like I'm Five

Scientists found that when different rules from different groups or countries bump into each other, things don't always get messy. Instead, they often work together to make a new system, even if people still argue if the new system is fair.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified

Identified Limitations

Overemphasis on Actor-Driven Perspective
The focus on norm collisions as solely actor-driven phenomena neglects the inherent potential for inconsistencies within the legal framework itself. Examining only how actors perceive collisions overlooks objective legal contradictions that can exist regardless of actors' interpretations.
Limited Scope of Analysis
While the micro-level focus offers insights into conflict dynamics, it doesn't adequately connect those dynamics to broader structural factors influencing global governance.
Artificial Distinction Between Interface Conflicts and Norm Collisions
The conceptualization of interface conflicts as distinct from norm collisions without actor involvement isn't entirely convincing. This distinction seems artificial and potentially hinders a fuller understanding of the interplay between norms and actors.

Rating Explanation

This paper introduces a valuable framework for studying norm collisions in international law. The interface conflict framework and its micro-level approach provides a nuanced understanding of how overlaps and collisions are activated and managed. The analysis of conflict management types is particularly insightful, showing how collisions can be creative of order. While there are limitations, the theoretical contribution and empirical findings are significant enough to warrant a strong rating.

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File Information

Original Title: After fragmentation: Norm collisions, interface conflicts, and conflict management
Uploaded: July 14, 2025 at 07:00 AM
Privacy: Public