Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Similar and Yet So Different: The Socialization of Democratic Norms in Post-War Germany and Present Day Iraq

Flockhart, Trine (2006) Similar and Yet So Different: The Socialization of Democratic Norms in Post-War Germany and Present Day Iraq. International Politics, 43 (5). pp. 596-619. ISSN 1384-5748. E-ISSN 1740-3898. (doi:10.1057/palgrave.ip.8800177) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:54330)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ip.8800177

Abstract

The article investigates the claim made by the Bush Administration that the successful democracy promotion in post-war Germany indicates that a similar exercise can be undertaken in present day Iraq with a positive outcome. By conceptualizing both democratization processes as identity constructions, where a democratic norm set is transferred through state socialization, it is argued that although compelling similarities exist between the two cases, important differences are also at work, which indicate less beneficial conditions for democracy in Iraq than in post-war Germany. The article utilizes a social constructivist framework, which indicates that the main determining factor for successful socialization is positive self- and other categorization processes between socializer and socialize. Unfortunately events in Iraq such as Abu Gharaib and the appalling security situation may well have a negative effect on these self- and other categorization processes between Americans and Iraqis.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1057/palgrave.ip.8800177
Uncontrolled keywords: democracy promotion, democratic norms, identity, Bush administration, post-war Germany, Iraq
Subjects: J Political Science > JZ International relations
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
Depositing User: Trine Flockhart
Date Deposited: 29 Feb 2016 11:46 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:22 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/54330 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.