Abstract
The past two decades witnessed the emergence of a new range of transnational social movements, networks, and organizations seeking to promote a more just and equitable global order. With this broadening and deepening of cross-border citizen action, however, troubling questions have arisen about their rights of representation and accountability—the internal hierarchies of voice and access within transnational civil society are being highlighted. The rise of transnational grassroots movements, with strong constituency base and sophisticated advocacy capability at both local and global levels, is an important phenomenon in this context. These movements are formed and led by poor and marginalized groups, and defy the stereotype of grassroots movements being narrowly focused on local issues. They embody both a challenge and an opportunity for democratizing and strengthening the role of transnational civil society in global
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Appadurai, A. (2002). Deep democracy: Urban governmentality and the horizon of politics. Public Cult. 14(1).
Batliwala, S. (1987). Women and housing. Lokayan Bull. July.
Batliwala, S. (2001). Acting for change: Trends and challenges in citizen movements. Background paper for CIVICUS General Assembly, Vancouver, Canada. www.civicusassembly.org
Bawiskar, A. (2001). Red in tooth and claw: Looking for class in struggles over nature. Department of Sociology, University of Delhi. www.cals.cornell.edu/polson/papers
Bruno, K. (February 6, 2002). The whole world was watching: New York stages a peaceful protest against the World Economic Forum. CorpWatch. www.corpwatch.org
Dhanraj, D., Batliwala, S., and Misra, G. (2002). A South Asian perspective on future challenges for the global women's movement. Paper presented at the Ninth AWID (Association for Women's Rights in Development) Forum, October 3–6, 2002, Guadalajara, Mexico. Forthcoming publication of AWID and Mama Cash, online: www.awid.org
Edwards, M. (2000). NGO Rights and Responsibilities: A New Deal for Global Governance, The Foreign Policy Centre, London.
Edwards, M. (2001). Global civil society and community exchanges: A different form of movement. Environ. Urban. 13(2): 145-149.
Florini, A. M. (2000). The Third Force: The Rise of Transnational Civil Society, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, DC/Japan Center for International Exchange, Tokyo.
Guha, R. (2000). Environmentalism: A Global History, Oxford University Press, Delhi, India.
Karliner, J. (February 6, 2002). Porto Allegre: Globalizing hope. CorpWatch. www.corpwatch.org
Khagram, S., Riker, J. V., and Sikkink, K. (eds.) (2002). Restructuring World Politics: Transnational Social Movements, Networks and Norms, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis.
McAdam, D. (1982). Political Process and the Development of Black Insurgency 1930–1970, University of Chicago Press, Chicago.
Patel, S., Burra, S., and D'Cruz, C. (2001). Slum/Shack Dwellers International: From foundations to treetops. Environ. Urban. 13(2): 45-59.
Sheller, M. (2000). The mechanisms of mobility and liquidity: Rethinking the movement in social movement theory. www.comp.lancs.ac.uk/sociology/soc076ms.html
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Batliwala, S. Grassroots Movements as Transnational Actors: Implications for Global Civil Society. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 13, 393–409 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022014127214
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022014127214