Influence of Uruguay’s recent pioneering laws and the Latin American discourse: perspective from norms advocacy

This research studies the regional influence Small States can achieve through norms promotion. Scandinavian states are already recognized by the literature as increasing their influence in the European Union using a strategy of norms advocacy. The present research evaluates whether Uruguay plays the same role in Latin America as Scandinavian countries in the European Union. For that purpose, the study reviews the influence of three Uruguayan recent polemical laws, namely the legalization of abortion, same-sex marriage and cannabis, on the Latin American discourse. This research finds that Uruguay actually became a norm entrepreneur within Latin America and that, consequently, its role and importance in the region increased.