Comparison of Same-Sex Marriage Rights between the Netherlands, Poland and Italy

Abstract

This paper compares the differences between 3 states, namely the Netherlands, Italy and Poland, which play different roles regarding same-sex marriage norm within the European Union. With Finnimore & Sikkhink’s norm’s life circle theory, these 3 states can be defined as 3 different roles: The Netherlands as a norm leader with same-sex marriage legislation, Italy as a norm follower with civil union legislation and Poland as a non-adopter with no recognition on same-sex relations at all. These differences are contributed by their unique natures within states. The countries with more space opened for LGBT by religious and better democracy tend to advance LGBT legislation more than those with lesser space and poorer democracy. However, the other elements which can drive this norm to diffuse in the new country is international organisation, in this case, the European Union. The international organisation plays an important role as the space for norm entrepreneurs, LGBT social movements, to introduce their LGBT norm and to build their connection aboard. Moreover, it can put some pressures on member states to diffuse the norm into their domestic spheres. Especially, when this norm is driven within the EU, the normative and supranational power with humanitarian values and democratic values. Accordingly, there are some probabilities that this norm will cascade more and more in the future.