Innebär deltagande i internationella organisationer en vilja att demokratiseras? En komparativ studie av Estlands och Vitrysslands medlemskap i mellanstatliga internationella organisationer.

Sammanfattning: We have studied if there is a possible link between states’ membership in intergovernmental organizations and a desire to participate in democratization processes in our chosen analytical objects Estonia and Belarus. We analysed our empirical findings by categorizing the membership of each countries membership in IGOs. By comparing what organization each country is a part of and which ones they have in common, we found that the two countries had different motives in their memberships in IGOs. Estonia participate in IGOs based around democratic values to a greater extent than Belarus, who have sought to cooperate more with other autocratic states. The two countries found common ground in global organizations without a clear agenda on democracy nor dictatorship. Our result shows that states does not have to imply a democratic interest in order to join IGOs even if IGOs can serve a purpose of democratization.