Global Activism Reader

Designed for undergraduate students, this reader combines essays on actual causes and issues that mobilize activists with theory and concepts of social mobilization. "The Global Activism Reader" is a unique collection of essays that introduce the various causes, actors, and organization of transnational mobilization to provide a broad, accessible survey of cases and theory. Beginning with concepts and definitions, the reader offers some historical perspective before focusing on contemporary transnational activism. This core section includes major causes or issue areas and specific campaigns. Readings on any given issue always include a critical or dissident voice. Weaving theory with case studies, the work discusses the environment, human rights, women's rights, arms control and disarmament, global justice and democracy, and religion. In addition, each essay features an introduction and conclusion by the editor as well as suggestions for further readings. The Reader addresses undergraduate students in political science and international relations in such courses as transnational activism, globalization, and global policy. It will allow students not only to learn about various contemporary movements, but also to develop a theoretical perspective to understand them.

Table of Contents:
I.    SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, NGOS, NETWORKS, AND THE IDEA OF A GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY    1.    Social Movements, NGOs, and Networks Mary Kaldor 2.    Transnational Advocacy Networks in the Movement Society Margaret Keck and Katryn Sikkink 3.    The Rise and Fall of Transnational Civil Society Thomas Richard Davies II.    ANTI-SLAVERY AND CONGO REFORM 4.    Transnational Activism in the Eighteenth Century: the Anti-Slavery Movement Huw T. David 5.    Transnational Humanitarian Heroes in the Early Twentieth Century: the Congo Reform Movement William E. DeMars III.    GLOBAL LABOR 6.    Transnational Pioneers: The International Labor Movement Dan Gallin 7.    Labor Rights as Human Rights: Regulation in the Context of a "Thinned" National State Gay W. Seidman IV.    HUMAN RIGHTS 8.    The Power of Norms versus the Norms of Power: Transnational Civil Society and Human Rights Thomas Risse 9.    Civil Society and the International Criminal Court Johan D. van der Vyver 10.    Human Rights NGOs: a Critical Evaluation Makau Mutua V.    WOMEN'S RIGHTS 11.    The Global Women's Movement: Origins, Issues, and Strategies Peggy Antrobus 12.    Contesting Women's Rights: Charting the Emergence of a Transnational Conservative Counter-network Louise Chappell VI.    ENVIRONMENT 13.    Spinning the Green Web: Transnational Environmentalism Wendy E. F. Torrance and Andrew W. Torrance 14.    Transnational Policy Networks and the Role of Advocacy Scientists: From Ozone Layer Protection to Climate Change  Reiner Grundmann 15.    Challenging Global Warming as a Social Problem: An Analysis of the Conservative Movement's Counter-Claims Aaron M. McCright and Riley E. Dunlap VII.    PEACE AND DISARMAMENT 16.    Banning the Bomb David Cortright 17.    The Ottawa Process: Nine Day Wonder or a New Model for Disarmament Negotiations? Maurice Bleicher 18.    Assessing the Small Arms Movement: The Trials and Tribulations of a Transnational Network Suzette R. Grillot, Craig S. Stapley, and Molly E. Hanna VIII.    SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY 19.    Before Seattle: the Historical Roots of the Current Movement against Corporate-Led Globalization Robin Broad and Zahara Heckscher 20.    Reclaiming the Commons Naomi Klein 21.    Creating Spaces for Global Democracy: The World Social Forum Process Jackie Smith 22.    Is Another World Possible? Problems and Shortcomings of the World Social Forum Owen Worth and Karen Buckly Notes on Authors

About the Author :
Luc Reydams joined the Department of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame in 2002, where he teaches courses on international law, international organizations, transnational social movements, and the network society. He has published a monograph with Oxford University Press as well as several refereed articles in international journals.

Review :
Reydams rocks!  In the Global Activism Reader, this intellectual impresario orchestrates a unique ensemble of theoretical and empirical themes on one of the hottest recent acts in international affairs: transnational advocacy.  For undergraduates and graduate students in international relations, human rights, globalization, and social movements, this excellent mix of readings showcases the highs and lows of global activism. Bravo! -- Clifford Bob, Duquesne University, author of The Marketing of Rebellion:  Insurgents, Media, and International Act Globalization is not only increasingly visible in the fields of politics and economy. Social movements and civil societies are also facing globalization and actually were so in the past as well. This book compiles a number of key texts about the subject by authoritative scholars and activists. Providing a good discussion of issues such as typology and research question, covering the last two centuries and aspiring thematic comprehensiveness, it is a splendid introduction to the subject for students of political, social, and historical sciences, as well as for global activists. -Prof. Dr. Idesbald Goddeeris - K.U.Leuven (Belgium) Transnational political activism is a central issue of our times, often holding the key to far-reaching change in human rights, environmental protection, and the quest for social justice. In the Global Activism Reader, Luc Reydams brings together a fascinating selection of theoretical and empirical perspectives from influential scholars on major transnational campaigns for political change. His cogent introduction and seamless organization of the volume into seven key issue areas makes this an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate students as well as essential reading for specialists. - Victor Peskin, Arizona State University Covering key issues and assembling important literature, this anthology offers an excellent resource both for college courses and for general public education. Readers are offered a selection that promotes conceptual depth, historical sensitivity, critical assessment and political awareness in understanding of contemporary global activism. - Jan Aart Scholte, Professorial Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation, University of Warwick