Blog 5

Government has existed as many different things in many different places throughout history. After acknowledging this fact, it is hard to discern what norms exist for governmental powers and actions. In America, the U.S. government is expected to remain, for the most part, out of individual affairs whereas, in other countries the governments may have established a norm of quite the reverse.

Despite these differences, however, a global norm of morals does exist. It is not acceptable for states to commit acts of moral injustice (i.e. genocides, murder, any human rights violation, etc.) and this expectation is held to standards made by the U.N. and other institutions. Unfortunately, this moral code is often breeched by nations on the road to power and self-interest. The blog question poses that there are either limiting social expectations, or all norms are reducible by those hungry for power. Both are applicable. Yes, there are social norms and expectations for the state, but everything is and has been overridden by governments thirsting for power. Just like the norms for a professor (cannot touch students, cannot physically, emotionally or sexually abuse students, etc.) can and have been breeched, global norms are often breeched as well. In the case of a professor, a violator of any major norm will result in a loss of the teaching position, and thus a loss of power. Similarly, a state that breeches the moral code is often approached by the U.N., often occupied or attacked, and in a sense losses some of its power as well.

On a personal and individual level, social norms are very powerful. Unfortunately, states are not worried about embarrassing themselves, or disrupting class when their phone rings. As realists often point out, states, especially developing states, have a thirst for power and will do anything to quench that thirst.