Annals of the "Ovidius" University of Constanţa. Political Science Series (Dec 2023)
A CONSTRUCTIVIST ANALYS OF EGYPT’S NORMATIVE DUALITY: BETWEEN THE SPREAD OF U.S. NORMS AND THE AFTERMATH OF THE ARAB SPRING
Abstract
This paper delves into the dynamics of democratic norms formation in the MENA region, with a particular emphasis on Egypt’s normative duality. Grounded in the norm life cycle framework advanced by Martha Finnemore and Kathryn Sikkink, this research analyses the promotion, dissemination, and internalization of democratic norms. A pivotal facet of this study lies in the juxtaposition between the normative stages delineated by the United States and Egypt’s distinct normative approach. More precisely, Egypt’s role has oscillated between serving as a normative leader and a normative disruptive force. By examining normative interactions, this study unveils Egypt’s normative duality and its broader implications in the MENA region. Employing a constructivist perspective, the research is structured into two distinct phases spanning the years from 2000 to 2011 and aims to analyze the promotion of democratic norms and their consequential impact. For the research framework, the article uses a qualitative methodology, focusing on the analysis of discourses from U.S. and Egyptian officials. Additionally, this work incorporates succinct quantitative details, rooted in the number of amendments and laws adopted in Egypt between 2005 and 2007, in order to ascertain the tangible outcomes of the normative influence exerted by the United States. Consequently, the research relies on both primary and secondary sources to assess the intersubjective meanings ascribed to democratic norms. Finally, this paper contributes to an enhanced understanding of normative dynamics in the MENA region, highlighting the normative pressure applied by the U.S. and its ensuing impact on the Mubarak regime.
