“Sooner or Faster”? How IOM and UNHCR Change Policy Norms for the Protection of Forced Migrants

International organizations are central actors in the global migration and refugee regime. They make, change, and implement policies for the protection of people on the move. The two key organizations in this field, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), differ strongly in that regard: Based on original empirical material, we argue that IOM and UNHCR pursue different policy-making styles. UNHCR is very quick in taking up changes in its normative environment, creating new or adapting existing policies and programs early on, but then slows down in its policy activities. IOM is slower in initially responding to normative change but then acts at a quicker pace. We illustrate this argument with findings from two case study on policy norms in relation to forced migrants with disabilities and on gender norms. Drawing on institutional theory, we then reconstruct potential explanatory factors behind the organizational differences. With this paper, we thus contribute to debates on policy-making in international relations and more specifically, to IOM and UNHCR as global governors. We already know a lot about their different mandates, organizational cultures, and institutional structures. Differences in their policy-making styles, however, still remain under-explored.