By seeking to explore the development of social protection national policy, this thesis has sought to contribute to the field of global social policy, by delving into the role and influence of...Show moreBy seeking to explore the development of social protection national policy, this thesis has sought to contribute to the field of global social policy, by delving into the role and influence of international organizations with regards to national social protection systems. This research has scrutinised the way Mexico applied conventions related to social protection devised by the International Labour Organisation and developed its national social protection system since 1931 (when it joined the organisation) until present. Through a historical approach, it has been demonstrated how Mexico's changing economic systems have conditioned the applicability of the internationally-devised norms of the ILO to its national context. This finding aligns with the scholarly view on international norm compliance according to which states do not always defy internationally-imposed directives willingly, but are rather conditioned by national events or circumstances of a socio-economic or political order. It has thus been concluded that the Lost Decade of the 1980s represented a moment of upheaval and economic change (from state-led industrialization to market-led economy) that influenced the effectiveness of the ILO's norms on Mexico's social protection system.Show less
Norm compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic describes the adherence to health- protecting measures such as social distancing and hand hygiene practice. High norm compliance has been shown to...Show moreNorm compliance during the COVID-19 pandemic describes the adherence to health- protecting measures such as social distancing and hand hygiene practice. High norm compliance has been shown to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. Norm compliance involves decision-making processes which are linked to working memory (WM), the ability to manipulate and maintain information. A recent study by Xie et al. (2020) found that high WM capacity predicted social distancing compliance as measured two weeks after the US COVID-19 emergency declaration. It remains unknown, however, if and to what extent the relationship between WM capacity and norm compliance changes over time. The goal of this study was to partially replicate Xie et al. 's (2020) research and investigate whether WM capacity can predict norm compliance two weeks (T1) as well as six weeks (T2) after the mandated COVID-19 lockdown in Germany. A sample of 67 participants (60 for T2) completed two self-report questionnaires for T1 and T2 respectively (within-subject design). WM capacity was measured with the digit span backwards (DSB) and a compliance scale assessing social distancing and hand washing behaviour was developed. The results indicate that WM neither significantly predicted social distancing compliance at two weeks nor at six weeks, thereby not replicating the study by Xie et al. (2020). These inconclusive findings can be explained by the complexity of measuring norm compliance, the differences to Xie et al. 's (2020) research and the limited representativity and size of the sample. As norm compliance is crucial for a functioning society, future research should continue investigating (cognitive) predictors of compliant behaviour, thereby identifying strategies for compliance-enhancing interventions.Show less
