ITESM Campus Monterrey

P.2012 Ciudadana y Democracia

Raoul Godinez
September 23rd, 2016
Jos Luis Galn Argumedo A01017000
Written Report on assigned Reading
Activists Beyond Borders
On the fight against making accountable a government that does not ensure the
Rule of Law, a country that fails perceive the actualization on international basic
values, or simply oversees humanitarian crises, Activists Networks around the world
have taken action. Mexico, as one of the greatest demagogues in the international
scenario on human rights and environmental protection, has apparently forgotten
its own rhetoric in favor of the enrichment and unaccountability of certain
individuals. Hence, the importance of International Advocacy Networks in a
domestic and international level. Through the following written report, the text from
Margaet E. Eck and Kathryn Stikkink titled Activists beyond Borders is analyzed,
paying special attention on the four main questions stated by both authors: (1)
What are transnational networks, (2) how did they emerge, (3) how do the work,
and (4) under what conditions are they most effective. A comprehensible answer to
these 4 questions is stated, finally comparing the work of Activist Networks in a
Mexican domestic contemporary scenario.
What is a Transnational Advocacy Network?
As a starting point it would be most convenient to define what a transitional
advocacy network is. A Transnational Advocacy Network (from here on also referred
as TAN) is a network of advocates working internationally on an issue, who are
bound together by shared values, a common discourse, and dense exchange of
information and services. This advocates or actors may include international and
domestic nongovernmental research and advocacy organizations, local social
movements, foundations giving and supporting grants through financial means, the
media, churches, trade unions parts of regional and international intergovernmental

organizations and parts of executive, parliamentary branches, without excluding

any other source of reliable information, or activism.
Despite the different specific goals and means of obtaining what might be
defined

as

successful

steps

towards

change,

there

are

certain

specific

characteristics that are common to the various networks worldwide. One of the
most important aspects though which a network is defined is through the centrality
of values or principled ideas the network support and fights for. Moreover, the
dependence on each specific member, relying on the efficacy and capacity of
producing a change though each individual is fundamental for the success of the
networks, constructing creative and effective uses of information and employing
specific nongovernmental actors though defined political strategies in targeting
campaigns.
The specific goal of an advocacy network is to change the behavior of
states

and

of

international

organizations;

frame

issues

to

make

them

comprehensible to target audiences and fit with favorable institutional venues.

This actions are specifically conducted though campaigns, defined as strategically
linked activities in which members of a diffused principles networks develop explicit
visible ties and mutually recognized roles in pursuit of a common goal. It is
important to recognize that these campaigns depend as well on the relationships
that are forged through the network and the level on influence of such individuals;
the resources, such as personnel, financial means, information and symbolic
material, provided through private and public sources in order to pursuit this
specific goal; the institutional structure created to canalize the flow of information
in the most adequate venues, encouraging or impeding particular transitional
activism; and finally the opportunity structure, being a key factor to understand the
emergence and effectiveness of a network or group, discussed more thoroughly
later on this written report.
Since Transnational Advocacy Networks is a contemporary subject, first
properly and scientifically studied since the end of the 1990s, the importance on
how and why this networks emerged is discussed.

Why and how have international Advocacy Networks emerged?

The first actual transnational advocacy networks date back to the fight
against slavery, carried out throughout the beginning of the nineteenth century, bu
the numbers, size, density, speed, and specially the effectiveness of these networks
grew dramatically specially after the second world war and for the following
decades.
In the following chart the growing tendency of different international
advocacy institutions classified on their area of specialization is to be recognized.

Some of the most outstanding tendencies include the growth of human rights
activist groups and relatively stable percentile on organizations dedicated to these
goals, as well as the specific success of widespread action on environmental issues.
Transnational Advocacy Networks appear most likely to appear around issues
where the channels of citizen action are ineffective, called the boomerang effect;
activists believe their networking campaign will further grow and gain critical mass
though action, designated as political entrepreneurs; and finally an international
arena is to be created, encouraged through the globalization tendencies. More on

the boomerang effect, these effect is produced when channels between the state
and its domestic actors are blocked. Domestic NGOs bypass their state and directly
search out international allies to try bring pressure on their states from outside. For
less powerful third world actors, networks provide access, leverage and information
that could not expect to have on their own; for northern groups [referring to groups
in industrialized countries, traditionally defined as first world countries] make
credible the assertion that they are struggling with, and not only, their southern
partners [the counterpart, countries traditionally recognized as the third world].
Moreover, the

international

scenario

represents

as

well

proliferation

of

international organizations and conferences has provided a catalyzing effect for

connections. Religious and political traditions including missionary outreach,
solidarity traditions of labor and the left, and liberal internationalism have long
supported action by individuals. Having stated the probable cause for the
appearance for international advocacy groups, it is now pertinent to state how
these networks work.
How do Transnational Advocacy Networks work?
Activism, persuasion and socialization are not only done through paper and
international forums, but some pressure, arm-twisting, encouraging actions and
shaming are sometimes also well-defined campaign strategies, as the authors of
the text describe the activist campaigning. The seeking for power and information,
ideas, strategies to alter the information and value contexts within states make
policies is crucial for the effectiveness of advocacy. Hence, the authors identify four
specific tactics that networks use in order to fin success, which are: (1) information
politics, (2) symbolic politics, (3) leverage politics and (4) accountability politics.
The first tactic, information politics, relies on the ability to quickly and
credibly generate usable information and move where it will cause more impact.
Non-state actors gain influence by serving as alternative source of information,
providing not only facts, but testimony as well. An effective frame must show that a
given situation, such as a human rights violation for example, is neither right nor
coincidental. This groups identify a situation and alert policymakers. On the other
hand, Symbolic politics frame issues by identifying and providing convincing

explanations for powerful symbolic events, which in turn become catalysts

explanations for powerful symbolic events which in turn become catalysts for the
growth of networks. Symbolic interpretation is part of the process of persuasion by
which networks create awareness and expand their constituencies.
More on the tactics of advocacy networks, one can recognize leverage
politics, also known as lobbying. Definition of effectiveness often includes some
policy change by target actors, such as governments, international financial
institutions like the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, or private
actors like transnational corporations. Networks need to pressure and persuade
powerful actors; weak groups gain influence far beyond their ability to influence
state practices directly. Finally, and closely related to the information politics, if the
information is to be framed and conducted, a precise and intentional will must be
identified, thus falling into an accountability politics tactic, where the effort to hold
powerful actors to their previously stated policies or principles. Activists try to make
such statements into opportunities for accountability politics. Once a government
has publicly committed itself to a principle, networks can use this positions to
expose the distance between discourse and practice.
Having stated the tactics that advocacy networks traditionally use, the
effectiveness and most favorable conditions for their success must be stated.
Under what conditions do Advocacy Networks have influence?
As a success framework, the following stages of influence must be identified
for a specific campaign or advocacy group: (1) issue creation and agenda setting,
internal in the advocacy group, this sets the efforts in a specific direction and
commences its action plan; (2) influence on discursive positions of states and
international organizations, having been recognized by domestic governments and
international political actors as a valid campaign; (3) influence on institutional
procedures,

aligning

once

agenda

with

the

agenda

of

nongovernmental

organizations in the fight for a specific cause, thus gaining critical mass this stage
is most likely to ensure the effective advocacy of a network or organizations - (4)
influence on policy change in target actors; and (5) influence on state behavior.

Three subsequential key factors must be acknowledged to recognize the

possible success of a network (1) the specific characteristics of the discussed issue
and (2) the actors involved in the campaign. Referring to the characteristics of de
issue, the definition of right and wrong, in particular, policies whose causes can be
assigned

to

deliberate

(intentional)

actions

of

identifiable

individuals

is

fundamental. There are two issue characteristics that appear most frequently, first,
issues involving bodily harm to vulnerable individuals, especially where a short and
clear causal chain is identified; and second, issues involving legal equality of
opportunity. Referring to the second key factor, there must be actors transmitting
those messages and targets who are vulnerable to persuasion or leverage.
Networks operate best with many actors, strong connections among groups in the
networks and reliable information flows.
Conclusion
As a summary of the information presented throughout this written report, is
important to connect the information discussed with the contemporary Mexican
history. Mexicos elected civilian government had been under the control of the
official political parte, the Institutionalized Revolutionary Party (PRI) since the party
was formed in 1929 and up to the year 2000. The most serious episode regarding
human rights violations up to the year 200 had been on October 1968, where army
troops opened fire on a peaceful student demonstration in a central plaza in Mexico
City. Te firm rhetorical support for the human rights efforts of international
organizations, and cultivated its image as defender of human rights, with disregard
of the human rights situation in the domestic scenario. Trained human rights
practitioners and fostered researches explicitly designed the Academy of Human
Rights on 1984 as an academic institution rather than an activist group. Human
rights violations where not attended, and any attempt of international pressure was
designated as a challenge to domestic sovereignty.
It was not until 1988, however, when a changed domestic and international
political context made human rights a more salient issue, since the Mexican
government had to open its doors for the newly opening discussions for a North
American Free Trade Agreement. The Inter-American commission on Human Rights

did not accept any Mexican Cases until 1989-1990, when an opposing party
challenged the ruling party against electoral irregularities. The state agreed to
submit itself to international jurisdiction with respect to the election of its political
bodies. The Party entered negotiations with political parties, and in 1990 began to
modify electoral laws and procedures, creating as well the national Commission on
Human Rights. Thus, stating the success of human right activists through
boomerang tactics, taking into advantage the sensible position Mexico found itself
into, when negotiation with the American and Canadian governments. The human
right watch in Mexico has been broadened, given opportunities for smaller activist
groups to be loud, such as the families of the 43 Ayotzinapan missing students, and
the 11 women that publicly alleged against the human right violation in 2006 in
Atenco.
Bibliography
Eck, M., & Sikkink, K. (1999). Activists beyond Borders. Ithaca and London: Cornell
University Press.

A WRITTEN report is required for all Presentations since it accounts for half of this particular activitys
grade. Report is due at end of each Module. Thoroughness and solid research are expected. There is
NO set limit to number of pages expected.

Basic structure of Written Work:

1) Introduction (WHAT are your proposed aims in developing this subject/report; what are the limits
of your analysis)
2) Analysis and exposition of material (must include all cited opus with clear references)
3) Conclusions
4) Bibliography (APA/ MLA)

In case of an Assigned Reading (usually but not always, JSTOR material) the focus is to explain the 5
core ideas behind reading. Its a labor of summarization.
A narrative of the assigned material is not an acceptable result to work expectations.