Center for European Studies

Why, despite similar international pressures, has socio-legal recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) minorities changed so differently across states? Why are some traditionally Catholic countries leading the way on LGBT rights and why do other advanced, wealthy democracies lag behind? Such variations are not explained by traditional explanations for successful diffusion and social change. In this talk, I suggest new domestic preconditions and international pathways for change. I argue that visibility is central to norm diffusion. The exchange of ideas with other countries—which activists can broker and enable—and the extent of a state’s openness to international organizations have demonstrable effects on diffusion and social change.