Transnational Human Rights Networks: Significance and Challenges

Abstract

Transnational human rights networks refer to a form of cross-border collective action that seeks to promote compliance with universally accepted norms. Principled transnational activism began to draw sustained scholarly attention after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and the creation of a new type of information-driven and impartial transnational activism, embodied in organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. Scholarship on transnational human rights networks emerged during the 1990s within the subfield of International Relations and as a challenge to the state-centric and materialist bias of the field. In their 1998 book Activists beyond Borders: Advocacy Networks in International Politics, Margaret Keck and Kathryn Sikkink describe the key role that transnational human rights groups play in global affairs. Focusing on rights-based activism, Keck and Sikkink show how transnational advocacy networks (TANs) can influence domestic politics. The concept of TANs is dominated by the purposeful activism of nongovernmental organizations and driven by shared principles, not professional standards. A number of studies have challenged the core assumptions about the effectiveness of principled human rights activism, arguing that international support plays no significant role compared to the autonomous efforts of domestic activists. One way to overcome these challenges and criticisms is for the transnational activist sector, as well as other types of non-state actors, to move beyond the principles/interests dichotomy and take a closer look at the internal dynamics of participant NGOs.

Strategies of transnational advocacy networks for Brazilian foreign policy: an introduction

“…With regard to economic, social and cultural rights, it is also important to highlight what Schmitz (2010) understands as a trend for human rights NGOs to seek new alliances with humanitarian and development groups, noting that this change may be the beginning of a transformation where organizations move to a position of fighting against the structural causes of violations, such as ethnic divisions and competition for resources. In this sense, Brazil's domestic experiences with the promotion of economic and social rights can generate important opportunities to promote effective policies beyond its borders.…”

“…Human Rights NGOs, according to Blitt (2004), are independent organizations that can operate at Finally, according to Keck and Sikkink (1998) When political entrepreneurs promote them; 3) At conferences or when other type of contact between activists happen (Keck and Sikkink, 1998;Schmitz, 2010).…”

“…That happens because, according to Keck and Sikkink (1998), problems that can be associated with intentional actions of identifiable individuals have more potential to be chosen for campaigns than very structural and difficult to explain causes. The campaign can also depend on the characteristics of the actors (if they are vulnerable to moral and material constraints), as well as on the networks themselves (how strong they are) (Schmitz, 2010).…”

“…4 No. 1 (September 2017) ~ 70 ~ First, Schmitz (2010) points out several problems with the organization of campaigns, such as: difficulty in establishing and maintaining networks, bias of some organizations selecting themes, focusing on media exposure rather than principles, domestic movement difficulties in gathering international support, local resistance to outside interventions, among others.…”

Untitled

“…When political entrepreneurs promote them; 3) At conferences or when other type of contact between activists happen (Keck and Sikkink, 1998;Schmitz, 2010).…”