Thus, instead of flying in Western experts to lecture local NGOs, the Council of Europe is now more likely to convene and moderate a brainstorming session, where Russian NGOs debate how to promote women's rights given local values and customs. While this falls short of what Western institutions or NGOs want, a growing body of research indicates that such tactical concessions are the first step in a longer-term dynamic whereby respect for human rights becomes institutionalized. A third type of domestic change promoted by international institutions is in the area of attitudes and values. This is at once both the most important and most difficult to measure. It often occurs through dialogue and debate, where persuasion and argumentation play central roles.
Attitudinal change is a long-term process.
When and if this comes to pass, the international community and domestic social groups will no longer need to pressure and shame governments in post-Soviet states. Rather, respecting basic rights would become the appropriate thing to do. At present, countries like Russia are nowhere near this stage of internalization. The mechanism through which the IMF seeks to influence Russian policy is largely one of incentives. It offers money in return for good Russian behavior, defined as adhering to Fund orthodoxy on deficits and other issues.