Abstract

The dawn of the twenty-first century has been accompanied by an upsurge of anti-capitalist campaigning, challenging the very basis of the New World Economic order. Dramatic events such as the protests from Seattle to Genoa, have captured media headlines. But media headlines leave key questions unanswered, questions about the ultimate significance of the challenges posed by global social movements and the development of civil society, both South and North. This book sets out to explore the lessons from these experiences of social mobilisation. How can non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and the labour and trade union movement develop effective campaigning alliances – without becoming institutionalised and incorporated themselves? How can they maintain an effective balance between winning immediate gains without losing sight of longer-term strategies for transformation? How can they work with celebrities to gain media attention -- without losing control of the message? And how can social movements develop organisational forms that are genuinely representative and democratically accountable, globally? These questions are explored through case studies of particular networks, movements and campaigns, to tackle the causes of social inequality and social injustice. It concludes by exploring lessons for building global challenges to neo-liberal agendas and developing more transformatory approaches.
Marjorie Mayo is head of professional and community education at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

'Marjorie Mayo has added another highly important contribution to her wide-ranging canon on the struggles for ordinary people's and communities' empowerment. This powerful book provides an analysis of how they can respond to globalisation - over key issues such as debt, gender rights, education and poverty - and examples of how they have done so.'
Gary Craig, professor of social justice, Hull University, and president of the International Association for Community Development

'In clear and accessible language, Mayo brilliantly outlines key theoretical debates about globalization, democracy and social movements, linking them to concrete case studies of citizen action. In so doing, she poses and explores critical contemporary issues of how to build sustainable challenges to global power through grassroots action. This book is a must for all of those seeking to understand how to build progressive movements for human rights and social justice in the twenty-first century.'
John Gaventa, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex and co-editor Global Citizen Action

'A gem ... chock-full of information for those who care deeply about issues of justice. ... offers good examples of social movements within larger contexts ...'
Krishnamurthy Pushpanath, campaign executive, Oxfam GB, UK

'Outlines key theoretical debates about globalization, democracy and social movements, and links these issues to concrete case studies of civil action.'
Leisa Magazine