Transnational Activism and Free Trade. Exploring the Emancipatory Potentials of Global Civil Society

Abstract

This article explores the alleged emancipatory potential of global civil society as regards transnational activism to promote fair trade. It examines the case of transnational activism on European Free Trade Agreements, with illustrations from the Stop EPAs campaign and activism relating to the negotiation of an Association Agreement between the EU and Central America. It looks at how ideas of fair trade are expressed and at the process of managing diversity and searching for common messages. Activists working in North-South open and ideological diverse coalitions managed the tensions between reform and resistance for the perceived benefits of increased voice. Though transnational activism created more space for debate and action thereby promoting inclusion of different voices, some views remain marginal in the search for compromises. The analysis suggests that global civil society cannot be understood as a single entity. Rather, the emancipatory contents and meanings of global civil society are being forged through these conflicts and interactions among different groups.Résumé Cet article est une étude du potentiel supposé d'émancipation de la société civile mondiale pour ce qui a trait à l'activisme international en faveur de la promotion du commerce équitable. Il examine les arguments de l'activisme international sur les Accords européens de libre échange, et s'appuie sur des exemples tirés de la campagne Stop EPA et de l'activisme relatif à la négociation d'un pacte d'association entre l'Union Européenne et l'Amérique centrale. Par ailleurs, il s'intéresse à la manière dont les idées de commerce équitable sont exprimées ainsi qu'au processus de gestion de la diversité et de recherche de messages communs. Les activistes travaillant du nord au sud au sein de coalitions Resumen Este artículo explora el presunto potencial emancipatorio de una sociedad civil global en lo que respecta al activismo transnacional para promover el comercio justo (''fair trade''). Estudia el caso del activismo transnacional en Tratados Europeos de Libre Comercio, con ilustraciones de la campaña Stop EPAs y el activismo relacionado con la negociación de un Tratado de Asociación entre la Unión Europea y América Central. Observa la forma en que se expresan las ideas relacionadas con el comercio justo y el proceso de administración de la diversidad y la búsqueda de mensajes en común. Los activistas que trabajan en coaliciones abiertas norte-sur e ideológicamente diversas administraron las tensiones entre reforma y resistencia para los beneficios percibidos que derivar de una voz en crecimiento. A pesar que el activismo transnacional generó oportunidades de mayor debate y acción, promoviendo la inclusión de diversas voces, algunos puntos de vista aún se encuentran marginados en un contexto de búsqueda de compromisos. El análisis sugiere que la sociedad civil global no puede comprenderse como una sola entidad. Por el contrario, los contenidos y significados emancipadores de la sociedad civil global se están forjando a través de est...

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