Young Activists as International Norm Entrepreneurs: A Case Study of Greta Thunberg’s Campaigning on Climate Change in Europe and Beyond

The role and signifi cance of young activists in the process of international norm creation, diffusion, internalisation, and implementation have not received much attention in academic research. Yet, as a case study of Greta Thunberg campaigning on climate change has proven, children and teenagers c...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dorota Heidrich, Justyna Nakonieczna-Bartosiewicz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Center for Europe, Warsaw University 2021-07-01
Series:Studia Europejskie
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.ce.uw.edu.pl/pliki/pw/2-2021-Heidrich.pdf
Description
Summary:The role and signifi cance of young activists in the process of international norm creation, diffusion, internalisation, and implementation have not received much attention in academic research. Yet, as a case study of Greta Thunberg campaigning on climate change has proven, children and teenagers can become significant norm entrepreneurs. Using the theoretical underpinnings of social constructivism, this article identifies and analyses Thunberg’s actions to exhort pressure on states, members of governments and international organisations to further develop and implement norms that would help save the planet from the imminent climate crisis. Our research uses an exploratory and inductive approach in which qualitative research methods (a case study of Greta Thunberg) and discourse analysis are applied.
ISSN:1428-149X