The Sources of Normativity in World Politics: Identity, History and Moral Obligation Towards Refugees

Why do states facing the same international norms arrive at radically different interpretations of the morally right course of action? This article examines the sources of normativity in world politics through the lens of the 2015 European refugee crisis. Adapting moral philosopher Christine Korsgaard’s concepts of practical identity and self-constitution to International Relations, we argue that moral obligations acquire political meaning through the interpretation of historical memory and national identity rather than through international law, liberal norms, or abstract moral principles alone. Political elites establish the foundations of normative obligation by invoking and interpreting national identities in ways that define what it means for their state to act as a “good” version of itself. Drawing on discourse analysis of official rhetoric, we compare Germany and Hungary as two ideal-typical cases. We show how German policymakers constructed a practical identity grounded in post-war liberal responsibility, while Hungarian leaders invoked narratives of sovereignty, cultural continuity, and historical defence against external threats. These competing interpretations of national identity generated distinct and politically resonant understandings of moral obligation towards refugees. The article contributes to constructivist and normative International Relations theory by developing an account of how identity and historical memory shape the creation of normativity in world politics.