Globalization and Resistance: Transnational Dimensions of Social Movements

Globalization and Resistance brings together cutting-edge theory and research about how global economics and politics alter the way ordinary people engage in contentious political action. The cases range from nineteenth-century Irish immigrant networks, to protests against World Bank projects in the Amazon, to contemporary transnational organizing for the environment, to the "battle of Seattle." The volume illuminates the reciprocal effects between globalization processes and social movements.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 1 Globalization and Resistance: An Introduction Part 2 I Theories of Globalization and Social Movement Mobilization Chapter 3 2 Explaining Crossnational Similarities Among Social Movements Chapter 4 3 Transnational Structures and Protest: Linking Theories and Assessing Evidence Part 5 II Transnational Mobilization and National Politics Chapter 6 4 Irish Transnational Social Movements, Migrants, and the State System Chapter 7 5 Conservation TSMOs: Shaping the Protected Area Systems of Less Developed Countries Part 8 III Transnational Diffusion and Framing Processes Chapter 9 6 Transnational Diffusion and the African American Reinvention of the Ghandian Repertoire Chapter 10 7 From Local to Global: The Anti-Dam Movement in Southern Brazil, 1979-1992 Chapter 11 8 Creating Transnational Solidarity: The Use of Narrative in the U. S.- Central America Peace Movement Part 12 IV Transnational Networks Chapter 13 9 Elite Alliances and Transnational Environmental Movement Organizations Chapter 14 10 Building Networks from the Outside In: Japanese NGOs and the Kyoto Climate Change Conference Part 15 V Protest and the Global Trade Regime Chapter 16 11 Transnational Political Processes and Contention Against the Global Economy Chapter 17 12 Globalizing Resistance: The Battle of Seattle and the Future of Social Movements Part 18 Conclusion Chapter 19 13 From Lumping to Spiltting: Specifying Globalization and Resistance

About the Author :
Jackie Smith is associate professor of sociology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Hank Johnston is editor of Mobilization: An International Journal and lecturer in sociology at San Diego State University.

Review :
The eclectic mix of topics and approaches proves both interesting and stimulating. One of the more interesting attempts to develop social movement studies so as to recognize adequately the breadth, depth and significance of transnational activism. Shifting from the broad canvas of globalization to the finer fabric of the mechanisms of activism is a step that will take us far in understanding the dynamics of transnational contention. That step has been mightily advanced by the contributions to this book.