SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Overview

Name:

Ms Cathy Huser

Email address:

cathyhuser@yahoo.com

Thesis title:

Protecting people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence: Do global protection norms make a difference in the lives of people at risk?

Year of Study:

1

Internal Supervisors

• Laura Hammond
• Stephen Hopgood

PhD Research

Do global norms make a difference in the lives of people at risk? In exploring norm diffusion through international relations and constructivism, I plan to compare and contrast this rather idealist view of how states become socialized into ‘appropriate behavior’ with the harsh realities of violent contexts in which the effects of such ‘socialization’ is nowhere to be seen. I will then explore the protection processes that take place within this space of extreme disconnect, which is highly dynamic, creative, and contested, examining the extent to which they are related to global norms or otherwise. Case studies are planned for Libya, Southern Sudan, and DRC.