“In this groundbreaking work, Antje Wiener presents the first systematic account of the roles of practices of contestation in international relations and global governance. She focuses on the fundamental norm-generative power of practices of contestation - the basis of legitimacy – and maps the changes that a wide range of such practices bring about. In so doing she provides a new way of understanding change, as well as normativity, diversity and cosmopolitanism. It is a must read for anyone interested in these central issues of our time.” (James Tully, Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of Victoria)

“Wiener’s A Theory of Contestation makes an important intervention into the field of international norms. […] [It] offers both an explanatory theory of how norms are contested and a normative defense of why they should be contested. Wiener’s argument is threefold. First, she argues that contestation generates international norms. Second, she argues that all norms are potentially contestable. Third, she argues that because contestation is central to the generation, transformation, and implementation of norms, international relations scholars should draw upon the ‘thinking tools’ developed by political theorists who work on norm contestation in the area of democratic theory.” (Jonathan Havercroft, University of Southampton)