Monday, October 21, 2013

Hochstetler, Smith, Silva 2013

Silva, Eduardo, ed. 2013. Transnational activism and national movements in Latin America: bridging the divide.

"The Road Traveled" Kathryn Hochstetler, William C. Smith, and Eduardo Silva (Conclusion to edited volume)

Concluding remarks for the book, most of which connect different chapters

  • ALternations to political opportunity structure ideas (Sikkink)
    • must also include "levels of threat" as a factor
      • when/if a threat disappears, a transnational network can fold (see FTAA fight for examples)
    • also, even when both domestic and international arenas seem "closed", activists can/will still attempt to change things (not be discouraged, as Sikkink suggests)
    • also whether "opportunities" can even bee objectively defined in the moment is challenged, undermining Sikkink's framework as a way to do anything but analyze post facto
    • questions also about the ability to clearly distinguish between international and national levels...fights can be simultaneously about both
    • Also, activists themselves can be brokers between national/international level, which can be problematic...if the activist/broker leaves the fight, the network may crumble
  • Effects of the Left Turn
    • easy to assume left would be good, but not always the case
    • The impact of shifts in domestic opportunity structures hinge on the interaction of three factors (191):
      • evolution of specific threats and international opportunities
      • the perceptions of movement leaders
      • and the relationship of activists to institutionalized politics
        • if the Left helps us nationally, will activists abandon transnational moves?

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