Commitment to the Norms

Abstract

Chapter Two establishes the normative context in the three case study countries –Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia – which provides the foundation for identifying and studying responses to norm conflict. The chapter analyses the degree of commitment to the two norms in Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia by relying on a three-fold measure of norm commitment consisting of (1) formal norm adoption, (2) norm implementation, and (3) norm compliance. It highlights the sources that give rise to expectations for norm compliance at the domestic and international levels. In emphasizing the relevance of the domestic aspects of norm internalization, namely norm implementation and demonstrated commitment to a norm in practice, this study of norm conflict importantly differs from the bulk of norms research, which still mainly focuses on the international level, asking whether and why states formally adopt norms.