Globalization and responsible state behavior: what does economic interdependence mean for norm compliance?

This thesis explores the relationship between economic interdependence and compliance with international norms of civil freedom in seventy-five developing and newly industrialized countries. The research conducted in this paper has two primary concerns. What is the relationship between economic interdependence and norm compliance? If such a relationship does exist, how does it occur? Using the World Development Indicators, Freedom in the World, and Polity data, I examine systemic-level relationships over time between macroeconomic variables (e.g. foreign direct investment, GDP, GDP per capita, and trade) and norms. Empirical evidence provides partial support of my hypothesis that there is a positive and significant relationship between economic interdependence and norm compliance. While capital interdependence proved consistent with the central theory in this paper, trade did not perform as expected because it was found to be negatively related to norm compliance or responsible state behavior. The substantive and empirical analysis provided in this paper provides fertile ground for future research and debate.