Norm negotiations. The construction of new norms regarding gender and development in EU foreign aid policy

The aim of this article is to explain norm change regarding gender and deve lopment in the EU. I trace the policy process from initiation to implementa tion to clarify how new norms were introduced and spread. The article combi nes a constructivist approach to norm diffusion with a negotiation perspect ive. Constructivist accounts underline the role of norm entrepreneurs and h ow they persuade others to internalize new norms. Insufficient attention is , however, paid to norm resistance. A focus on strategic negotiations is th erefore needed to understand norm diffusion processes fully. Gender entrepreneurs were confronted by less convinced colleagues in Counci l committees. The new norms had to fight their way into institutional think ing, competing with traditional norms like economic growth. Norm negotiatio ns took two major forms: text negotiations and implementation negotiations. After a gender resolution was taken, the new document became an important reference point, which has facilitated the institutionalization of gender n orms in the EU.