The Theory of Contestation advances critical norms research in international relations. It
scrutinises the uses of 'contestation' in international relations theories with regard to its
descriptive and normative potential. To that end critical investigations into international
relations are conducted based on three thinking tools from public philosophy and the social
sciences: The normativity premise the diversity premise and cultural cosmopolitanism. The
resulting theory of contestation entails four main features namely types of norms modes of
contestation segments of norms and the cycle of contestation. The theory distinguishes between
the principle of contestedness and the practice of contestation and argues that if
contestedness is accepted as a meta-organising principle of global governance regular access
to contestation for all involved stakeholders will enhance legitimate governance in the global
realm.
