1. Nongovernmental Actors Chapter 7

2. Why Study NGOs and TANs? Practical reason Strong empirical evidence that NGOs and TANs influence states’ foreign policy making Academic reasons Pluralist scholars see analytical bias in the realist claim that only states matter Some realist scholars have come to accept that transnational relations have changed global interactions

3. Transnational Nonstate Actors: Positive Aspects Participants in global politics that are not states Work with states to shape foreign policies Often do what states cannot—or will not—do Can be catalysts for positive change and the sources of innovation

4. Transnational Nonstate Actors: Negative Aspects NGOs may seek to undermine authority or overthrow states – Criminal networks – Terrorist groups

5. Global Civil Society Occupies space between the state and the market unconstrained by national boundaries Religious organizations Schools and other educational institutions Trade unions Service organizations Academics: research groups, epistemic communities, foundations Media organizations

6. Growth of Global Civil Society

7. Political Actors in the Global System: National Governments 196 in 2012 193 are members of the United Nations Focus of the state-centric academic perspective

8. Political Actors in the Global System: MNCs MNCs: multinational corporations 65,000+ in 2012 Examples: Toyota, Royal Dutch Shell, Microsoft, De Beers, and Nestlé 821,000+ subsidiaries globally Employ 90+ million people Produce 25 percent of the world’s gross product

9. Political Actors in the Global System: Research Institutes 5,000+ in 2012 Sometimes called “think tanks” Provide information and expertise Influence public and private actors Shape critical policy decisions

10. Political Actors in the Global System: IGOs IGOs: intergovernmental organizations 246 in 2012 Composed solely of states Nonstate actors might have “observer status” Examples: UN, NATO, EU, and the Arctic Council

11. Political Actors in the Global System: INGOs INGOs: international nongovernmental organizations 7,500+ in 2012 Examples: – Amnesty International – Worldvision – Greenpeace International – The Global Policy Forum

12. Political Actors in the Global System: Global Social Movements Mode of collective action that challenges ways of life, thinking, dominant norms, and moral codes Seek answers to global problems Promote reform or transformation in political and economic institutions

13. Political Actors in the Global System: TANs TANs: transnational advocacy networks “Networks of activists, distinguishable largely by the centrality of principled ideas or values in motivating their formation” (Keck and Sikkink, 1998, 1) Examples of TANs – Occupy movement (2,500+ groups in 82 countries) – International Campaign to Ban Landmines – Network of Young People Affected by War

14. MNCs as Political Actors

15. MNCs: Not Part of Civil Society Firms with branches or subsidiaries outside home country The first examples were European firms in agriculture, mining, and oil sectors Now found in all economic sectors Investments made globally

16. Four Types of International Firms International companies – Are simply importers and exporters – No investments or operations outside the home countries

17. Four Types of International Firms Multinational companies – Investments around the world – Adjust their products and services to local markets

18. Four Types of International Firms Global companies – Investments and a presence in many countries – Use the same brand and image in all markets

19. Transnational Companies – Complex organizations that invest in foreign operations – Have a central corporate office – Allow foreign markets to make decisions about marketing and research and development

20. Reasons for Global Reach of MNCs Consumers make purchasing decisions about price of products, not national origin National leaders: want jobs for citizens MNCs seek: – Markets for investments and sales – Cheap but skilled labor – Access to essential resources

21. MNCs: Reasons for Negative Images Representatives of Western capitalist culture – Guilty of exploiting labor – Crowding out local businesses Support for oppressive governments Contributing to pollution, poverty, and corruption

22. MNCs: Liberal Perspectives A positive force Spreading technology Spreading efficiency Spreading wealth

23. MNCs: Economic Nationalist Perspectives Neomercantilist: alternate name for this perspective MNCs – Threaten national sovereignty – Dilute national wealth

24. MNCs: Marxist Political Perspectives MNCs as representatives of the core capitalist states Create dependencies in countries where they invest Maintain core–periphery global economic structures

25. Nongovernmental Organizations as Political Actors

26. Globalization and the Expansion of NGOs Corporations, trade unions, and professional groups have reacted to globalization by forming NGOs Globalization and the growth of NGOs have eroded government control over political, economic, and social life Technological advances have provided the means for NGOs to expand their scope and influence

27. NGOs Most idealist of global actors Progressive organizations working to reform or transform the current global system Making decision-making arenas more: – Equitable – Transparent – Environmentally friendly

28. NGOs: “Imagined” Global Communities Rischard (2002): NGOs tend to work in three broad areas: – Sharing our planet: issues such as global warming, ocean pollution, and biodiversity – Sharing our humanity: issues that focus on global health, education, human rights, war, violence, and repression – Governance, or sharing our rule book: issues that involve international laws and institutions

29. Not All INGOs Support Progressive Changes Represent the status quo Some support authoritarian or racist-preferred futures TNC and MNCs sponsor own NGOs and advocacy networks – Still considered part of global civil society – Sometimes called “Astroturf” movements

30. Variety of INGOs BINGOs: business and industry groups GRINGOs: government-regulated and government-initiated QUANGOs: sometimes called quasi-INGOs RINGOs: sponsored by religious groups and often promote religious norms and values

31. Using Globalization: TAN and TSMO Tactics Take advantage of trends to increase political effectiveness of their campaigns Governments at all levels are the targets, and for many people across the globe Movements and networks have become the focus of their political activism and political identity

32. The Power of NGOs In pluralist societies NGOs have multiple points of access to influence policy Sources of NGO power – Providing information to government officials – Symbolic: calling attention to a specific event as an emblem of a large problem – Leverage politics: applying moral suasion to governments and publics – Accountability politics: compelling governments to live up to their commitments – Global campaign: uniting groups and friendly governments for a specific issue

33. Political Actors in the Global System: Philanthropic Foundations 1,000s in 2012 Provide funding for global projects Work in areas such as human security, education, science and technology, and global security

34. Nonlegitimate Groups and Liberation Movements as Political Actors

35. Transnational Criminals: Political Impact Criminal activities with greatest political impact – Illegal arms sales – Illegal drugs trade – Human trafficking

36. Transnational Criminals: Political Impacts Four sovereignty problems arise with tackling criminals as with regulating TNCs – Criminal financial flows erode government controls over banking – Diminished government control over borders – Law enforcement arbitrage: antigang activity by one government can push gangs to another country – Extraterritorial jurisdiction

37. Political Violence by Nonstate Actors Groups reject legitimacy of a government Support for nationalist groups has varied over time Names of groups called reflects extent of sympathy for them – Governments call them terrorists to express disapproval – Neutral observers call them guerrillas – Supporters call them national liberation movements

38. Political Violence and Legitimacy Violence more likely to be considered legitimate if: – Widespread support – Government rejects a political settlement or closes access to nonviolent means of expression – Target government is exceptionally oppressive – Nationalist groups attack only specifically military targets Failure to meet criteria usually means reduced transnational support – Example: Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) – Example: Al Qaeda