Dynamics of Socialization

Abstract

In the previous chapter, we conducted a summary analysis of the conditions under which European regional organizations (the socialization agencies) have been able to induce governments in norm-violating Eastern European countries (the socialization targets) to comply with their constitutive liberal rules. Using QCA, we were able to show that a credible EU or NATO membership perspective is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for inducing compliance in the problematic target countries. In general, credible EU or NATO membership incentives have to meet low domestic power costs of rule compliance for the target government. However, under the special circumstances of endgame negotiations on EU or NATO accession, target governments that aspire or consider themselves to be part of the Western international community will accept moderate power costs (such as the loss of a coalition partner or the majority in parliament) in return for the opening or conclusion of accession negotiations — and comply.