The Self‐Fulfilling Prophecy of Deviance: The Case of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Abstract

This thesis explores why international efforts to make certain 'deviant' regimes follow established norms often fall short. The norms research program in IR has predominantly focused on structural theorizing, thereby overlooking the interactive dynamics between individual states and the international community. I argue that by disregarding the reciprocal processes between individual states and the international community, contemporary research has constrained its understanding of why some states diverge from ‘established’ norms even when there are attempts to enforce them. To enhance this understanding, I draw upon a key insight from the sociology of deviance that suggests the interactions between an individual and society influences the individual's trajectory. I apply these insights to the case of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and demonstrate that labeling a state as deviant can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy. Additionally, I scrutinize how factors such as international engagement, regime type, and economic integration, influence this process. My aim is to bridge the gap between structural and individual perspectives and present a more comprehensive framework for examining normative compliance and deviance in international politics.