Civil Society and the Dynamics of Transnational Alliances:: Building Best Practices from the Make Poverty History Campaign

In 2005 the largest ever anti-poverty movement came together under the banner of Make Poverty History. In Civil Society and the Dynamics of Transnational Alliances Janel Smith investigates how transnational civil society (TCS) has organized to influence global policy-making. Through a case study analysis of the activities of Make Poverty History in the lead up to the 2005 Group of Eight Summit, Janel Smith gleans insights into the dynamics of TCS alliances. This book sheds new light on the complexity of relationships among civil society actors and the unique challenges they face in forming partnerships by examining these through the lens of Inter-Group Conflict Theory. It develops deeper knowledge of the factors that are relevant in the organization and governance of TCS partnerships and documents several best practices. TCS is conceptualized through the framework of the Social Economy to call attention to the socio-political and socio-economic activities and impacts of TCS alliances. Ultimately, this work asks how can stronger relationships between members of TCS alliances be developed that will enable TCS to effectively confront newly (re)emerging challenges of the 21st century.