Globalising the study of diffusion: multiple sources and the East African community

Abstract

A growing literature on di ff usion shows that ideas, policies and institutions originating in the European Union shape decision-making in other regional organisations (ROs). However, a research programme which claims to examine processes of interdependent decision-making between ROs in general cannot treat a single RO as the ‘ default ’ source of this di ff usion. This paper thus (1) discusses what we term the ‘ multiple sources ’ problem in di ff usion research and (2) presents a model of institutional di ff usion, which highlights the important role of local actors in the multiple sources scenario. Based on original data collected via extensive fi eldwork in East Africa, we present a case study on the interdependent sources behind the East African Community (EAC) ’ s establishment in drawing on this model. We fi nd that EAC policymakers selected between, combined and modi fi ed several external institutions. These fi ndings highlight local actors ’ capacity for institutional innovation.