Globalising the Study of Diffusion: Multiple Sources and the East African Community
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In: Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 31, No. 11, 10.2024, p. 3703-3731.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Globalising the Study of Diffusion: Multiple Sources and the East African Community
AU - Lenz, Tobias
AU - Reiss, Mariel
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024/10
Y1 - 2024/10
N2 - A growing literature on diffusion shows that ideas, policies and institutions originating in the European Union shape decision-making in other regional organisations (ROs). However, a research programme which claims to examine processes of interdependent decision-making between ROs in general cannot treat a single RO as the ‘default’ source of this diffusion. This paper thus (1) discusses what we term the ‘multiple sources’ problem in diffusion research and (2) presents a model of institutional diffusion, which highlights the important role of local actors in the multiple sources scenario. Based on original data collected via extensive fieldwork in East Africa, we present a case study on the interdependent sources behind the East African Community (EAC)’s establishment in drawing on this model. We find that EAC policymakers selected between, combined and modified several external institutions. These findings highlight local actors’ capacity for institutional innovation.
AB - A growing literature on diffusion shows that ideas, policies and institutions originating in the European Union shape decision-making in other regional organisations (ROs). However, a research programme which claims to examine processes of interdependent decision-making between ROs in general cannot treat a single RO as the ‘default’ source of this diffusion. This paper thus (1) discusses what we term the ‘multiple sources’ problem in diffusion research and (2) presents a model of institutional diffusion, which highlights the important role of local actors in the multiple sources scenario. Based on original data collected via extensive fieldwork in East Africa, we present a case study on the interdependent sources behind the East African Community (EAC)’s establishment in drawing on this model. We find that EAC policymakers selected between, combined and modified several external institutions. These findings highlight local actors’ capacity for institutional innovation.
KW - East African Community
KW - Regionalism
KW - diffusion
KW - global international relations
KW - institutional design
KW - Politics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85168650734&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/fc1a45b9-4e97-3c14-a1d7-b11ecc81a833/
U2 - 10.1080/13501763.2023.2245448
DO - 10.1080/13501763.2023.2245448
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 31
SP - 3703
EP - 3731
JO - Journal of European Public Policy
JF - Journal of European Public Policy
SN - 1350-1763
IS - 11
ER -