Transnational Actors Research Articles

Resistance from Overseas: U.S. Diasporic and Transnational Activism in Response to the 2021 Myanmar Military Coup

Resistance from Overseas: U.S. Diasporic and Transnational Activism in Response to the 2021 Myanmar Military Coup

Advocating for the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive Against the Odds: Strategies and Legitimation

AbstractDeveloping legislation to counter the negative impacts of businesses' transnational activities on human rights and the environment is a recent trend. Supporters of such legislation have campaigned to convince policy‐makers to adopt strong law, but this legitimation process has not been theorised. Using Vaara et al.'s theoretical framework, we uncover the six discursive legitimation strategies used by the proponents of the European Union (EU) Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to legitimise its creation. Based on interviews with proponents, we offer two main findings. First, the directive's supporters seek to reverse the narrative that legislation with extraterritorial implications is neo‐colonial by arguing instead that the neoliberal status quo exemplifies neo‐colonial exploitation. Second, non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) can convince businesses of the directive's advantages by using playing down, mimicry and rationalisation as discursive legitimation strategies. These findings have major implications for debates on how to make the CSDDD effective in regulating business operations in the Global South.

Aktywizm dający przyjemność: działanie na zasadzie wspólnej zgody, lokalne zakorzenienie i oddolne polityki integracyjne

This article discusses the operation of a grassroots pro-refugee initiative that has been active since the 2015 migration crisis. The author answers questions about why the grassroots initiative, which has no formal structures or external funding, has lasted so long, and analyzes its structure and mechanisms for effective interaction and cooperation with the local environment. The initiative is embedded in an existing local network, while drawing inspiration from the transnational activist movement. The author uses Adrienne Maree Brown’s notion of “pleasure activism,” David Graeber’s ethnographic descriptions of “anarchist groups operating by a consensus,” and ethnographic research of the initiative, which he conducted from September 2021 to July 2022. Key-words: pleasure activism, co-operation, local rootedness, friendship, consensual decision-making, refugees, grassroots pro-refugee collectives

Geopolitical strategies and transnational environmental governance: A comparative study of international NGOs in Cambodia

Geopolitical strategies and transnational governance can synergistically interact to meet strategic ambitions and environmental targets. International NGOs and their transnational operations are the heart of these entangled dynamics. This study reveals how geopolitical strategies influence international NGOs and their transnational activities. Drawing on empirical insights from a comparative study of international NGOs (Japanese and Chinese) in Cambodia, we developed two models to elucidate the nature of this relationship. The “tight coupling” model is exemplified by Japanese NGOs that are closely aligned with the Japanese state’s geopolitical focus on soft power in Southeast Asia. This alignment results in strong state support in terms of resources and networking capabilities, enabling the NGOs to conduct long-term environmental work and build relationships with Cambodian communities through deep engagement. The “loose coupling” model is exemplified by Chinese NGOs whose alignment with China’s dominant geopolitical strategy (the Belt and Road Initiative) is relatively weak. Consequently, these NGOs receive limited state support, which restrict their ability to engage with local communities and achieve a sustainable impact. This study breaks new ground by weaving together the fields of geopolitics and transnational environmental governance, offering new insights regarding how to incorporate geopolitical perspectives in examining the roles of non-state actors in global environmental politics.

The Filipino comfort women on YouTube: Emotions, advocacy, and war memories in a transnational digital space

In this article, we examine the representation and contestation of Filipino comfort women’s memories on YouTube and assess the platform’s role in public discourse and transnational activism. Our content analysis of visual and narrative elements, alongside user commentary on selected videos, reveals that YouTube acts as a crucial transnational medium, linking advocacy networks and contextualizing historical narratives. However, the videos often sensationalize the victims’ experiences, undermining the seriousness of sexual violence, which could potentially weaken advocacy efforts. Moreover, user commentary on the videos can promote counter-narratives, rumors, and hostile comments. Despite these challenges, we underscore YouTube’s significance in fostering public discourse on war memories and justice in the Philippines in light of the government’s efforts to suppress the history of Filipino comfort women. The platform encourages the sharing of corroborative postmemory, enhancing war memorialization and audience engagement, and supporting the women’s claims of abuse. Ultimately, YouTube’s role as an open forum for discussion is vital in fostering dialogues for peace and justice and countering propaganda and hate.

Get the hammer out!

This paper focuses on revealing how the interplay between algorithmic interactions and the intuitive ways humans navigate digital environments can be researched through a multi-method approach to collecting and critically examining data from online platforms. We use a case study that looks at the role that social media engagement by transnational activists, local activists and celebrities played in amplifying an offline protest by group of women in India. Grounded in a critical feminist perspective, this paper uses multiple methods to demonstrate how the amplification of local protesters work through an interplay of human action and platform algorithmics. We conduct an algorithmic ethnography involving the examination of computational systems shaping online interactions. We examine the digital emergence and recognition of the women of Shaheen Bagh as subaltern political agents/subjects. Understanding of the interplay between online and offline visibility and strategic planning is highlighted. We conduct close readings of small data clusters that emerge within big data networks. We challenge the overreliance on big data methodologies and the fetishization of in-person ethnography (Bishop 2018) over digital ethnography.

Reaching out beyond the national border? How far‐right actors in Germany and Norway evaluate transnationalism

AbstractResearch has emphasised the importance of far‐right transnationalism, in terms of both ideology and practice. Yet, the literature lacks a comprehensive analysis of how far‐right actors themselves reflect their transnational practices (or lack thereof), such as party‐level exchange, joint protest events, or online communication. Drawing on original interview data from Germany and Norway, our research unveils that while far‐right ‘nationalists’ generally endorse transnational activities, only a minority actively participates. The interviewees perceive transnational practices as opportunities for strategic learning, showcasing of collective strength, and networking. Simultaneously, they express concerns about being associated with extremists and getting entangled in conflict‐ridden areas. Theoretically, we discuss the role of ideology and everyday life as well as the importance of only limited strategic incentives for understanding far‐right transnationalism. In doing so, we draw parallels to experiences made by left‐wing actors. Moreover, we underline the potential of Granovetter's ‘strength of weak ties’ for far‐right diffusion.

Seattle in Coalition: Multiracial Alliances, Labor Politics, and Transnational Activism in the Pacific Northwest, 1970–1999. By Diana K. Johnson

<i>Seattle in Coalition: Multiracial Alliances, Labor Politics, and Transnational Activism in the Pacific Northwest, 1970–1999</i>. By Diana K. Johnson

Different shades of green: how transnational actors frame nature as a solution to sustainability challenges in African cities

ABSTRACT Nature – based solutions (NBS) are increasingly being positioned within global discourses concerning how urban sustainability challenges can be addressed. To better understand to what extent, how, by whom and with what potential implications NBS are promoted in urban Africa, this paper focuses on transnational actors and presents a dataset covering 40 NBS initiatives in 57 cities across 19 African countries. A framing analysis is undertaken to understand to what degree NBS are mobilised in accordance with global discourses. To that end, the paper builds on existing work by Tozer et al. (2022, “Transnational Governance and the Urban Politics of Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Change.” Global Environmental Politics, 1–23) on globally circulating frames of urban nature. In further contributing to their framework, we delve into the underlying values or shades of green that are being signified through the frames by applying the IPBES Nature Futures Framework. Results indicate that urban nature comes to be seen as a solution within a climate resilience – integrated benefits nexus through which various types of transnational actors are bringing nature into the city. Two important findings can be highlighted: First, the deployed frames offer opportunities to address major African urban sustainability challenges, but initiatives may not yet be configured to adequately address their scope and magnitude. Second, the configurations of frames are predominantly informed by instrumental values that put "Nature for Society” perspectives in focus, missing opportunities for NBS to build on relational values, or “Nature as Culture” perspectives and for accommodating a plurality of worldviews on desirable futures for urban nature.

Correcting detection bias in mapping the abundance of marine megafauna using a Mediterranean seabird as an example

Abstract Distance sampling surveys are extensively used to estimate the abundance of wide-ranging species but are prone to detection biases. This may be particularly acute for strip-transect protocols, which assume perfect detection. We examined this assumption by quantifying the detection probability of a declining seabird (Scopoli’s shearwater, Calonectris diomedea), with particular attention to time of day and observation conditions at sea. We found detection probability was negatively affected by sun glare but positively by cloud cover and considerably dropped during mid-day hours due to circadian changes in behaviour (reduced detectability while resting). This result urges for systematically assessing and correcting detection bias when using strip-transect data to derive abundance information. Here, we did so by building a detection-corrected presence-absence ensemble model and combining it with a compilation of colony sizes and locations. A Monte-Carlo simulation ensured uncertainty propagation within and across data sources. The corrected abundance map showed shearwaters were largely prevalent in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia hosting most of the population both at sea and at colonies (45% of the global population; 79% of breeding pairs). This first accurate map is an essential conservation tool, emphasizing the importance of transnational actions for such species, that know no political boundaries.

Travel for women rights: social movements and the construction of travel as activism in social media

ABSTRACT Globalized social movements often require travel, but travel as a symbolic form of transnational activism has only been examined in certain instances. This paper employs the notion of political travel and, through a qualitative content analysis of social media posts during the 2018 pro-choice Irish referendum campaign, it shows how travel can be approached as a form of activism and resistance from a critical feminist angle in the context of a global campaign mediated by social media. Inspired by assemblage theory [De Landa, M. (2016). Assemblage theory. Edinburgh University Press.], our findings show how different elements; people, spaces, objects are assembled to construct the framing and narrative of a social movement that fights for women rights. The individual accounts of travel experiences in social media contributed to the overall ‘aestheticization’ of the social movement. Also, the study offered insights into the meanings that, predominantly female, travellers, assign to their political travel, which are in turn shaped by personal and historical concerns.

Advancing the labour rights of migrant workers beyond Kafala: the impact of ‘established-outsider relations’ on reforming Qatar’s transnational labour management system

In the years following Qatar’s successful 2010 bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2022, there has been a significant shift in its engagement with the migrant labour rights discourse, and subsequent embarkment on significant reforms as the result of intense international scrutiny and advocacy action. The core feature of Qatar’s historically evolved transnational labour management system, Kafala, has become a key focal point of international advocacy efforts. The objective of this article is to assess the extent to which the reforms constitute a break in Qatar’s historical (that is, pre-FIFA 2022) labour management system, and thus a meaningful disruption to the social reproduction regime that allowed the Kafala system to persist. We do so by probing the institutionalisation of those reforms, with a particular focus on the agency of labour through collective worker empowerment. Drawing on interviews with key transnational actors involved in the reform process in situ, we employ the ‘established-outsider’ relations concept in our analysis of the reforms, while highlighting the remaining challenges. Our ultimate argument is that although the reforms in Qatar seek to provide more labour rights and protections, they fall short of loosening the absolute control of sponsors (kafeels) over their employees. This is due to two main reasons: the absence of strong and effective institutions to convert the legal reforms into rights in practice; and the fact that laws outside of the labour ministry, that fall under the jurisdiction of the interior ministry, are the foundation of the relationship between citizens and migrants and remain largely untouched. These double-edged limitations guarantee the social reproduction of the highly unequal labour mobility system by firmly keeping in place ‘established-outsider’ relations.

The Resurgence of Military Coups in West-Africa States: The Case of Niger Republic and Its Implications on Peace, Security and Transnational Activities in Nigeria

Niger Republic is a country rich in mineral resources (uranium) with astounding and complex relationship with the West, a strategic country provided with supports and collaboration with the West (United States of America) when it comes to fight against terrorism in Africa. Relatively enjoying a stable civilian government before the seemingly unexpected military coup struck and pull out the roots of civilian government and short-lived the democratic government in power. This study aims at; identifying and examining the factors responsible for military coups in West Africa States and Niger republic in 2023, examining the interventions and reactions of Nigerian Government and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and other international organizations towards the Military Coup in Niger Republic, identifying and assessing the implications of the Niger coup on Nigeria national peace, security and socio-economic development as a neighboring State and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) in general. In this study, the Resource Curse Theory was used as the theoretical framework of analysis. The data used in this study are primarily and secondarily sourced. The interview was tailored towards eliciting information from key informants, including historians, political scientists, peace and conflict experts, international relations experts, diplomats, staff of foreign affairs ministry and other stakeholders. Secondary data were sourced from publications, editorials, articles, textbooks, journals, newspapers, internet materials in relations to the subject matter. The research work established the fact that security and welfare of the people which is the primary purpose and responsibility of the government has not been adequately attended to due to leadership failure and indiscipline among the political class. However, because of the far-reaching implications of the coup for national life and ECOWAS States at large, the study therefore, recommended, among other things, that all parties involved must embrace peace and come together in order to resolve the matter in a manner that will further promote peace and development in the sub-region.

The transnational engagement of Afghan diaspora organizations: Drivers of diaspora specialization

AbstractThis article delves into the engagement of Afghans in Europe in diaspora organizations (DOs) and examines the factors influencing the varying levels of transnational involvement aiming Afghan DOs (ADOs). Through a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) of 85 ADOs across Austria, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom, this study explores intricate configurations leading to transnational activities. Drawing from a diverse range of qualitative data sources, this study deciphers different causal pathways underlying diasporic transnational activities. The results show that although individual conditions do not singularly drive transnational activities, the analysis identifies specific configurations where external funding notably shapes these transnational activities. Particularly, the research reveals that organizations in Germany and the Netherlands have stronger transnational ties to their country of origin compared to ADOs in Austria and Sweden, which focus primarily on local activities.

Europeanization as Pragmatic Politics: Italy’s Civil Society Actors Operating in the Face of Right-Wing Populism

This article examines how and under what conditions Italy’s civil society organizations (CSOs) have resorted to transnational activism and to what extent these efforts translate into impactful political advocacy. The analysis focuses on the action strategies of these civil society actors that have come under considerable pressure through the resurgence of populist–nationalist actors in the domestic arena. Developing an actor-centred perspective from below, this article draws on a series of 27 interviews conducted with these organizations’ representatives working primarily on issues related to migration and refugees in Italy. The empirical study examines some key initiatives that see domestic CSOs as protagonists in the transnational realm and explicates their motivations, approaches, and experiences. Conceptually, the article distinguishes between the vertical and horizontal Europeanization of CSOs. While there are notable opportunities for CSOs to engage in Brussels-centred governance and policy making, the effectiveness of horizontal Europeanization in the form of cross-border networking is—at first sight paradoxically—limited by the EU’s system of multi-level governance. The central argument about Europeanizing civil society activism is that these processes are primarily driven by a pragmatic pursuit of solutions to concrete political challenges that could not be properly addressed in an increasingly hostile domestic environment.

Rethinking Jurisdictional Barriers to Practising Law Abroad: A Soft Technological Deterministic Approach

The regulation of legal practice has been based predominantly on geographical boundaries. To varying degrees, foreign lawyers are prohibited from engaging in the practice of law in host jurisdictions without local admission, and in some cases with the added complexity of nationality or residency requirements. This is notwithstanding that increasing international trade and other transnational activities, enabled by advancements in technology that facilitate efficient transportation and communication, are creating a growing demand for legal services across borders. While much has been written about how technology is changing the nature of legal practice, the approach taken by this article is to assess whether technology is playing this change-role in a solely deterministic manner. In examining this question, this article applies soft technological determinism to argue that, while technology is an important factor, it does not have a mono-causal effect in shaping changes to cross-border legal practice. Rather, these changes are being influenced by an interplay of technological progress and non-technological factors such as similarities in legal systems, harmonisation of laws and trade affiliations.

Represores prófugos, “niños desaparecidos por segunda vez”: activismo por los derechos humanos y conflictos interestatales en una región en tiempos de cambio (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay: 1984-1996)

Represores prófugos, “niños desaparecidos por segunda vez”: activismo por los derechos humanos y conflictos interestatales en una región en tiempos de cambio (Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay: 1984-1996)

Revisiting Transnational Activities: Korean Immigrant Mothers’ Home Visit for Families

Immigrant mothers engage in numerous transnational activities. In this qualitative study, we explored one distinct type of transnational activity, a return trip to the home country for visit, as experienced by Korean immigrant mothers. Through purposeful sampling, 11 married middle-class Korean immigrant women with children were recruited to be interviewed during their visit to South Korea. By exploring the transcripts through the thematic analysis, we paid attention to how these women negotiated and constructed the meaning of their return trip. These mothers carefully planned and coordinated these return trips so that their children could find their Korean roots by being immersed in the culture and build close intergenerational relationships. The mothers also perceived the trip as an opportunity to see their relatives face-to-face and spend quality time with their aging parents. Similar to other transnational activities, the meanings of return trip to home country might reflect social and cultural climates of Korea and the United States.

#BringBackOurGirls: Transnational Activism and the Remediation of the 2014 Chibok Girls’ Kidnapping in Nigeria

Abstract In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped almost three hundred girls attending school in Chibok, Nigeria. The #BringBackOurGirls campaign emerged as a global activist movement in the aftermath of that kidnapping. Onah’s article analyzes the global mediascapes of the campaign to show the mnemonic affordances of the Chibok girls’ kidnapping and the intermedial dynamics that coalesced to make it a global memory phenomenon. By foregrounding the transhistorical and intermedial connections at the core of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, it consolidates the understanding of remediation in memory studies. Consequently, Onah proposes new ways to understand African memorial traditions and testimonial practices in an increasingly hyperconnected world.

Transnational Activism through the Prism of Anarchism, and Vice Versa

AbstractChapter Four of Daniel Laqua's Activism across Borders, on “Class, Revolution and Social Justice”, opens stimulating avenues for reflection with its cross-partisan approach, over an ambitious chronological span – from the post-1848 wave of revolutionary exile to the contemporary global justice movement. From the perspective of a historian of pre-1914 transnational anarchism, this brief review essay considers three prominent aspects of this chapter: historiographic perspectives on socialist activisms; the modalities of transnational activism; and borders and boundaries.