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Martha FinnemoreProfessor at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
Date of Birth: 09.09.1959
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Martha Finnemore
- Scholarly Contributions
- National Interests and International Norms
- Intervention and Normative Change
- International Organizations as Agents
- Norm Diffusion and the Norm Life Cycle
- Influence and Recognition
Martha Finnemore
Education and BackgroundProfessor Martha Finnemore holds a professorship at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. She earned her bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a master's degree from the University of Sydney, and her Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1991.
Scholarly Contributions
Constructivism in International RelationsFinnemore is a leading scholar in the American constructivist school of thought in international relations theory. Her research has illuminated the role of norms and culture in international politics, demonstrating that international organizations can be coherent and purposeful social agents that shape state interests.
National Interests and International Norms
In her seminal 1996 book, "National Interests in International Society," Finnemore argued that international normative structures significantly influence world politics. She challenged traditional realist and liberal theories by showing that states perceive their own interests in light of prevailing norms and values.
Intervention and Normative Change
In "The Purpose of Intervention" (2003), Finnemore examined the changing nature of military interventions. Tracing the decline of intervention for debt collection and the rise of humanitarian intervention, she attributed these shifts to transformations in normative expectations surrounding the legitimate uses of force.
International Organizations as Agents
In "Rules for the World" (2004), co-authored with Michael Barnett, Finnemore demonstrated that international organizations are not simply reflections of state interests but have independent agency and autonomy. They can act in ways that go beyond the intentions of their state founders, sometimes leading to organizational pathologies such as excessive bureaucracy and corruption.
Norm Diffusion and the Norm Life Cycle
In a 1998 article co-authored with Kathryn Sikkink, Finnemore identified three stages in the life cycle of a norm: emergence, cascade, and internalization. This study became one of the most widely cited articles in the leading international relations journal, International Organization.
Influence and Recognition
In 2009, a survey of over 2,700 international relations faculty ranked Finnemore among the 25 most influential scholars in the field. In 2011, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
