International organisations and norm diffusion: the case of UNODC in Central Asia

The political landscape of Central Asia experienced a profound and irreversible transformation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. While common trends, such as shifting from planned to market economies and attempts at democratisation, were observed, the distinctive context of each Central Asian state played a unique role in shaping their individual transitions. This process has been further accelerated since the early 2000s with the increasing presence and influence of various actors, including states, multinational companies, and nongovernment and international organisations, across the region. Within this evolving landscape, international organisations have emerged as norm entrepreneurs, playing significant roles in diffusing norms within Central Asia. Whilst actively involved in the region, UNODC’s specific activities, projects, and mechanisms via which it disseminates norms on issues within its mandate in Central Asia remain unexplored. This chapter addresses this gap and seeks to answer the following questions: How does UNODC foster international norms and standards in response to transnational challenges? Why is UNODC’s involvement crucial in facilitating norm diffusion within Central Asia? This study also addresses potential contestation from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) against UNODC’s norm diffusion and reflects upon evolving global governance dynamics and the boundaries of norm diffusion in the Central Asian region.