Pulling states towards abolitionism: the power of acculturation as a socialization mechanism

Although it is commonly held that states’ beliefs and practices are shaped by the interactions between domestic and international actors and institutions, how international forces influence state behavioral patterns and normative beliefs remains a central theoretical challenge for academics seeking to improve the understanding in this field. The past two decades saw a seminal body of literature formed at the intersection of international relations and international human rights law, which offers invaluable insights into the socialization mechanisms and processes that states are motivated to comply with human rights norms and institutions. The mechanics identified by the so-called ‘first-generation’ of this socialization literature which is capable of inducing changes in domestic law, policy, and practices in the field of human rights include coercion and persuasion. Coercion concerns the process via which international institutions and foreign states force target states to obey international norms by using material sanctions and rewards. It is premised on the notion that nation states respond to military and financial incentives and costs by making rational calculations about the consequences of their behavior. Examples of coercion include the international community’s imposition of military sanctions on and offer of financial benefits to target countries in exchange for the latter’s compliance with international human rights norms. Persuasion, in contrast, focuses on a process during which the target state assesses, ‘internalizes’ and genuinely accepts the validity and legitimacy of international human rights norms. While the former emphasizes on material force and interests, the latter focuses on constructive identities and shared ideas.