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Human Rights Institutions, Sovereignty Costs and Democratization

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  • Hafner-Burton, Emilie M.
  • Mansfield, Edward D.
  • Pevehouse, Jon C.W.

Abstract

Why do countries join international human rights institutions, when membership often yields few material gains and constrains state sovereignty? This article argues that entering a human rights institution can yield substantial benefits for democratizing states. Emerging democracies can use the ‘sovereignty costs’ associated with membership to lock in liberal policies and signal their intent to consolidate democracy. It also argues, however, that the magnitude of these costs varies across different human rights institutions, which include both treaties and international organizations. Consistent with this argument, the study finds that democratizing states tend to join human rights institutions that impose greater constraints on state sovereignty.

Suggested Citation

  • Hafner-Burton, Emilie M. & Mansfield, Edward D. & Pevehouse, Jon C.W., 2015. "Human Rights Institutions, Sovereignty Costs and Democratization," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(1), pages 1-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:45:y:2015:i:01:p:1-27_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Debre, Maria J & Sommerer, Thomas, 2023. "Weathering the Storm? The Third Wave of Autocratization and International Organization Membership," Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, Working Paper Series qt7g9450nx, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California.
    2. Coen, David & Kreienkamp, Julia & Tokhi, Alexandros & Pegram, Tom, 2022. "Making global public policy work: A survey of international organization effectiveness," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 13(5), pages 656-668.
    3. Cottiero, Christina & Hafner-Burton, Emily & Haggard, Stephan & Prather, Lauren & Schneider, Christina J, 2024. "Illiberal Regimes and International Organizations," Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, Working Paper Series qt2bx6b98g, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California.
    4. Jon CW Pevehouse & Timothy Nordstrom & Roseanne W McManus & Anne Spencer Jamison, 2020. "Tracking organizations in the world: The Correlates of War IGO Version 3.0 datasets," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 57(3), pages 492-503, May.
    5. David Coen & Julia Kreienkamp & Alexandros Tokhi & Tom Pegram, 2022. "Making global public policy work: A survey of international organization effectiveness," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(5), pages 656-668, November.

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