Norm socialization from policies to practices

Abstract

Rich insights from norm research mainly address the impacts of international norms on states' policy behaviours while assuming norm-favoured state policies would entail society practices. Such assumptions need to be examined as many instances of norm practices in states lag to state policies. In order to address this loophole in norm research, this study examine the way norm socialization animates at the domestic sites by investigating the practices of two norms; Freedom of Association (FOA) and Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) in Myanmar. Research's investigations focus on interactive dynamic of international, transnational and domestic actors within the confine of domestic structural factors. The two cases demonstrate that norm practices within a state are the function of interactive dynamics of multiple actors as conditioned by the contents of norms and domestic structural factors. Conflictual dynamics of key stakeholders in the practices of FOA leads off-tracking FOA norm in Myanmar while synergetic dynamics of key players in RBC practices keep RBC norm on-track towards moral and functional purposes of each norm. Such findings go beyond the expectations of norm studies on the role socialization play out at domestic sites where external norm agents' engagement in 'the leverage politics' of empowering domestic pro-norm coalitions to pressure state(government)(Keck and Sikkink, 1998: 23-24), in addressing capacity issues(Risse et al., 2013: 185-186)and in joint translation of norms with domestic actors(Zimmermann, 2017: 199-200). Based on empirical findings, this thesis argues that domestic norm practices can better be explained by analyzing the socializations at domestic sites which provides a vantage point to appreciate dynamic nature of multi-actor (global-local) or (agential dynamic) which shape and being shaped by domestic structures and norms' contents. Analytical focus on agential dynamic captures three important aspects of norm socialization; 1) impact of norms' content (or issue areas) on domestic norm practices, 2) influence of domestic structures on norm practices and 3) external actors' interest and investment in norm promotion. Therefore, this research proposes 'agential dynamic' as a new analytical tool to explain 'domestic chapter of norm socialization' affecting norm practices rather than impact of norms and socialization on states' policies. The notion of agential dynamic also complement the existing accounts on socialization at the sites of international and regional organizations affecting states' policy changes. Show more