Non-state actors play an increasingly visible role in global governance and maintain increasingly complex transnational relations across state boundaries. This seminar will introduce students to the analysis of non-state activism (primarily focused on non-governmental organizations, NGOs) and its role in shaping global institutions and domestic political and social change. The first part of the seminar discusses basic definitions and distinctions (e.g, transnationalism, not-for-profit sector, advocacy/service, North-South issues) and survey the theoretical literature on transnational non-state activism. The second part of the seminar focuses on substantive questions capturing the organization of transnational non-state actors and activism, including governance, effectiveness/impact, networking/collaboration, and accountability. The third main part of the seminar reviews the role of non-state actors across major sectors of transnational activism: humanitarian aid, global health, environmental protection, development, and human rights. The core themes are:
·        Part I: What is transnational activism? (September)
 ·        Part II:  What are the effects of transnational activism? (October)
·        Part III: How is transnational activism organized? (November)

>> syllabus 2009, .pdf-file.