1. The consolidation dilemma in European order transformation: theorising endogenous pathways to the contestation of liberalism.
- Author
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Kobayashi, Kazushige
- Subjects
LIBERALISM ,INTERNATIONAL organization ,DILEMMA ,ORDER picking systems - Abstract
Existing research on the contestation of the liberal order predominantly focuses on the corrosive effects of exogenous spoilers or the peculiarities of anti-liberal politics in domestic contexts. Yet, we know little about how the internal evolution of orders affects their long-term viability. As a first step towards developing an endogenous theory of international order transformation, this article draws inspiration from norm translation theory and develops the concept of the consolidation dilemma as a trade-off between rigidity and resilience in the evolution of international normative orders. This article argues that the process of order consolidation can paradoxically result in the decline of its overall resilience by undermining the constructive ambiguity needed to maintain a broader appeal. Applying this framework to the illustrative cases of Poland and Hungary, the article shows that challenges to the European liberal order did not materialise in the 1990s because its potential resisters were included within the thin liberal order of the time. Over time, however, Europe's liberal order underwent an endogenous transformation from a thin to a thick order with more clarity, institutionalisation, and value enforcement. This internal transformation narrowed down its support base and compromised its overall resilience to withstand endogenous and exogenous shocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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