In political science, norms have been conceptualised as persuasive reasons for (re-)defining rationality and (re-)shaping actors’ identities. This becomes particular apparent in the realm of forest conservation. In the European Union (EU), numerous efforts have been made to maintain or enhance the conservation of forest ecosystems through various sectors and governance levels. For instance, recent initiatives under the European Green Deal aim to drive the ecological transformation of society and the economy. These efforts underscore the critical role of norms derived from both hard and soft law.
This systematic review explores the role of norms in the academic literature on European forest conservation politics. While norms have been extensively studied in other policy areas, their influence on forest politics has been rather neglected. To fill this gap, the review analyses which norms are relevant in European forest conservation, how they are framed in the literature, how they diffuse across governance levels, and how they are contested by different actor groups. The PRISMA statement is used to structure the reporting of findings.
The study identifies conceptual ambiguities regarding the use of norms within the forest politics literature, highlighting the need for clearer definitions. Additionally, it demonstrates that norms should be understood as dynamic processes that are both socially constructed, structuring, and gain meaning through contestation in specific contexts. Consequently, the findings of the study open new avenues for research and contribute to broader theoretical debates on the role of norms in environmental politics.
