Description
This paper investigates the normative agency exerted by African states in the development of international cybernorms through an analysis of South Africa, Kenya, and Mauritius’ engagement in UN forums. Adopting a Global IR perspective, it applies Finnemore and Sikkink’s norm life cycle model and Acharya’s norm circulation concept to assess how African actors navigate across norm emergence, diffusion, and internalization stages. The study utilizes a qualitative methodology involving videos of UN cybernorms processes, document analysis and expert interviews to elucidate evolutions in the selected countries’ positioning and insider perspectives. Although varied interests exist on the continent, collective African dynamics in grappling with shared cyber vulnerabilities are examined. The paper unpacks whether African states act as norm takers, promoters, or shapers at different junctures. Findings will address a significant gap in constructivist literature’s predominant focus on Western normative agency. This paper ultimately aims to enrich theoretical and empirical understanding of the Global South’s evolving role in shaping international cybernorms.
