In the Eye of the Beholder: A Sociology of Knowledge Perspective on Norm Transfer

Abstract

The article introduces the concept of ‘strategic blueprinting’ as a distinct practice of norm transfer, thereby turning the ‘normative-power approach’ on its head. Rather than transferring norms from the inside of liberal communities out, outsiders choose to copy parts of the acquis communautaire. European integration is thus perceived through the eye of the beholder. To elaborate on this strategy, the article compares it with other types of norm transfer such as transplantation and diffusion. The intention is to establish parameters for further research on norm transfer along the four principled dimensions of the new sociology of knowledge: (1) identify and define the practice (internal/external division); (2) situate the practice within the broader field of integration theories and the parallel development of integration policy and politics (symmetry principle); (3) reconstruct the practice (situatedness principle); and (4) establish its potential with regard to governance and constitutionalism in the global realm (contextualism).

Key Words:

• Blueprinting
• norm transfer
• normative power
• diffusion
• sociology of knowledge
• acquis communautaire
• community

Notes

1. For the adaptation of the ‘new’ sociology of knowledge, compare the argument developed by the introduction to this special issue (Adler-Nissen and Kropp 2015); for earlier notions of the sociology of knowledge compare the seminal work by Berger and Luckmann (1967), which has been the starting point for reflectivist approaches to European integration, and more generally, international relations theories (compare for example, Christiansen et al. 1999; Fierke and Jørgensen 2001).

2. Please note that more detailed substantiation of these illustrations remains to be facilitated by further empirical research for which this article is intended to set the framework approach, and which, therefore, leads beyond the purpose of this predominantly conceptual piece.

3. Compare, e.g. the assessment of International Democracy Watch (for details: http://www.internationaldemocracywatch.org/index.php/mercosur-parliament, accessed on 9 September 2014).

4. Compare IJRC at: http://www.ijrcenter.org/regional-communities/court-of-justice-of-the-andean-community/ (accessed on 9 September 2014).

5. See: ‘Europe as an Example for Asia’ in: DIE ZEIT, 5 November 2012, 258 (all translations from German original texts, AW).

6. See: Huffington Post, 6/11/2012 (http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/prime-minister-najib-razak/najib-razak-learning-from-europe_b_2080744.html, accessed on 9 September 2012).

7. For details, see the AEC’s website at: http://www.asean.org/communities/asean-economic-community (accessed 26 August 2013).

8. For details, see AU’s website: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/recs/sadc.htm (accessed 27 August 2013).

9. Compare: http://www.alternative-regionalisms.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/schoemar_fromsadcctosadc.pdf.

10. The Guardian, 28 March 2013.

11. The Guardian, 8 May 2013.

12. For details, see the AU’s website: http://www.africa-union.org/root/au/aboutau/constitutive_act_en.htm (accessed on 3 July 2013).