Decolonising Norms in IR - Charlotte Epstein | Ep. 1 (2026)
About this episode
Professor Charlotte Epstein discusses how postcolonial perspectives reshape the study of norms in international relations.
In this episode, Professor Charlotte Epstein reflects on how postcolonial perspectives reshape the study of norms in international relations, challenging conventional accounts of diffusion, compliance, and legitimacy. The conversation explores colonial inheritances embedded in contemporary normative orders, while examining positionality, experience, and the epistemological stakes of critical scholarship. Charlotte Epstein Charlotte Epstein is Professor at Tokyo College, University of Tokyo, where her work examines how language and political power have jointly constituted the modern international order. Publications: The power of words in international relations: Birth of an anti-whaling discourse Who speaks? Discourse, the subject and the study of identity in international politics Constructivism or the eternal return of universals in International Relations. Why returning to language is vital to prolonging the owl’s flight The postcolonial perspective: an introduction Against international relations norms: Postcolonial perspectives Birth of the state: The place of the body in crafting modern politics Content 00:00 – Introduction 01:42 – Colonialism and Postcolonialism…
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