ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the elaborations on the meanings of following crucial terms: 'norms', 'norm diffusion', 'social learning' and 'socialization', and it explains how these terms are operationalized. The theoretical framework used in the chapter draws mainly on the literature related to norm diffusion and socialization. Norm diffusion as a concept is near to synonymous with state socialization. The socialization concept in most of its interpretations stresses the process of how states adapt to the norms, and not so much the outcome in terms of norm convergence. Both Checkel's definition of socialization and Finnemore's and Sikkink's understanding of norm diffusion are based on a distinction between two modes of behaviour: behaviour following the logic of instrumentalism and behaviour following die logic of appropriateness. The 'normative power Europe' literature assumes that the EU due to its sui generis nature in international politics is more inclined to act normatively than other actors.
