Call for Papers for Volume 8(2), December 2025: "Norm Contestation, Identity Politics, and Cultural Power Dynamics in Contemporary International Relations"

In today's world, where power is decentralizing and ideas are more diverse than ever, international norms which have been predominantly rooted in liberal and Western values, are facing new and complex challenges.  International norms are no longer simply accepted or internalized; they are questioned, resisted, reshaped and reimagined by many different international actors.

The upcoming special issue, volume 8(2) December 2025, invites scholars to explore the many ways international norms are contested, either proactively or reactively (Wiener, 2020). We particularly encourage article submissions that connect these norms struggles with questions of identity, culture, symbolic power, interest and the calls for recognition from postcolonial and Global South. This might include outright rejection based on alternative worldviews, strategic adoption, critical engagement seeking change, or the promotion of entirely new visions that better reflect the hopes and realities of those outside the dominant power. Thus, the international order is not merely an arena of material competition, but a space where meanings and norms are actively contested, with diverse actors attaching their own interpretations to what might appear to be universal standards.

We welcome research articles or critical reviews that bring both strong ideas and real-world relevance, showing how marginalized voices challenge, reinterpret, or transform dominant power narratives in areas including but are not limited to human rights, democracy, and environmental regimes as well as other normative issues in international relations.

Submission guidelines: https://jurnal.amikom.ac.id/index.php/nsjis/submission-guideline
Author Guidelines: https://jurnal.amikom.ac.id/index.php/nsjis/writing_guidelines
Deadline for submission: July 31, 2025
Inquiries: journalnationstate@amikom.ac.id

With kind regards,

Yoga Suharman
Editor in Chief
Nation State: Journal of International Studies
Email: yoga.shrmn@amikom.ac.id