Fragmented Alliances against the Colossus

Transnational cooperation between trade unions and social movements against the Transnational Trade and Investment Partnership

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This research proposal aims to fill a gap in the existing literature on cross-border cooperation between trade unions and social movements. Issues like transnational networking and alliance building have received a growing attention in recent years, particularly in correlation to union revitalisation, new social movements, and mobilisation against global economic integration. There has not been, however, a systematic theorisation of transnational cooperation between trade unions and social movements as a process. This study will look at the fragmented alliance between German, French, and British trade unions and social movements against the Transnational Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
The aim of this research is to employ qualitative methods in the form of a systematic process analysis in order to assess 1) the factors influencing or hindering the emergence of a transnational alliance; 2) the cooperation and coordination mechanisms employed within the alliance; 3) the internal and external consequences of the cooperation. The analysis will have therefore concentrate on understanding stakeholders’ attitudes on resource mobilisation, influence pathways, and framing. This research is important because it fills a gap in the research, by concentrating on increasingly important dynamics. Additionally, this study has strong implications for planning future initiatives by European trade unions and social movements.

Contact:

 Giulia Gortanutti