Domestic Effects of International Norms

The European Union formulates ambitious joint principles for development policy, yet national implementation of these principles often lags behind. Which factors play a role in this? With a social constructivist norm approach, this study proposes a model for understanding the under-researched institutional embedding and internalisation of international norms at the domestic level. By looking at France, Germany and Spain, it investigates three long-standing EU member states. Its two case studies focus on two particular aspects of development policy: poverty orientation and joint donor approaches. On the basis of interviews and encompassing additional sources, the study argues that both agency and structural factors play a role in domestic norm translation.