The limits of EU liberal norm diffusion: a quest for 'better democracy'?

This study explores the extent to which the EU has diffused liberal and democratic norms across its new members and its periphery in a context of the EU's liberal norm diffusion on the one hand, and the populist backlash towards liberalism on the other. We measure these norms via the International S...

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Publicado en:Journal of Southeast European & Black Sea Studies Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 229 - 251
Autores principales: Cenker-Özek, Cerem I., Çakmaklı, Didem
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jun2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      aug:
        au:
          Cenker-Özek, Cerem I.
          Çakmaklı, Didem
        affil: The Department of Political Science and International Relations, Antalya Bilim University, Antalya, Türkiye
      su:
        Poland
        Hungary
        European Union
        Populism
        Social norms
        Democratization
        European Union membership
        Democratic backsliding
      sug:
        subj:
          Populism
          Social norms
          Poland
          Hungary
          European Union
          Democratization
          European Union membership
          Democratic backsliding
      keyword:
        democratic citizenship norms
        liberalism
        Norm contestation
        the EU
        democratic citizenship norms
        liberalism
        Norm contestation
        the EU
      ab: This study explores the extent to which the EU has diffused liberal and democratic norms across its new members and its periphery in a context of the EU's liberal norm diffusion on the one hand, and the populist backlash towards liberalism on the other. We measure these norms via the International Social Survey Program Citizenship modules and levels of democracy via the Varieties of Democracy Project's liberal democracy index. We posit that while liberalism has become near synonymous with democracy, and despite findings that affirm the EU's influence on liberal norm diffusion, the EU's lack of consideration of alternative republican and communitarian norms has slowed down the process of democratic consolidation. These findings have policy implications especially for Hungary and Poland, where democratic erosion is evident, and for EU candidate states, Türkiye and Georgia, where, in the accession process, the EU's liberal bias prevails over alternative democratic norms.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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      src: R
    language: English
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