Norm maturity : assessing the current state of the norm against genocide

It is largely accepted that norms progress through certain stages of development;\ud however, the current literature on norms has failed to adequately assess norm maturity\ud and the process of norm adoption. Using Finnemore and Sikkink???s norm life cycle as a\ud framework, this paper will argue that before a norm can be established, it must move\ud through an emerging state and overcome two tipping points that represent the\ud acknowledgment and enactment of the norm. This paper will examine the maturity of the\ud norm against genocide through an analysis of discourse as it relates to norm development. Case studies will focus on the Genocide Convention, the Rwandan genocide and the state of the norm in the post-Rwanda era. Contrary to much of the literature, the international community???s inaction in response to genocide is not a violation of an established norm, but serves as evidence that the norm is still evolving and has not been adopted