Thesis advisor: William A. Gamson / In this dissertation, I examine the strategic evolution of the US anti-sweatshop movement, particularly United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) and the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC). While scholars of social movements have analyzed individual tactics used by movements, they have only recently begun to look at the larger question of strategy--how movements make choices about which tactics to use when and how they link these tactics together into a larger plan to alter macro-level power relations in society. This dissertation is one of the first empirical examinations of the processes by which particular groups have developed their strategy. I look at how ideology and values, a sophisticated analysis of the structure of the apparel industry, strategic models for action handed down from past movements, and the movement's decision-making structures interacted in the deliberations of anti-sweatshop activists to produce innovative strategies. I also focus on how the larger social environment, especially the structure of the apparel industry, has shaped the actions of the movement. In seeking to bring about change, the anti-sweatshop movement had to alter the policies of major apparel corporations, decision-making arenas typically closed to outside, grassroots influence. They did so by finding various points of leverage--structural vulnerabilities--that they could use against apparel companies. One of the most important was USAS's successful campaign to get a number of colleges and universities to implement pro-labor codes of conduct for the apparel companies who had lucrative licensing contracts with these schools. In USAS's campaigns to support workers at particular sweatshops fighting for their rights, they could then use the threat of a suspension or revocations of these contracts--and therefore a loss of substantial profits--as a means to pressure apparel companies to protect the workers' rights. This combination of strategic innovation and access to points of leverage has allowed the US anti-sweatshop movement to win some victories against much more powerful foes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Sociology.

The 1990s have seen an extraordinary growth industry in books and articles about globalization. However, far too much of this material has reinforced the message that globalization is an unstoppable force sweeping away national sovereignty and inevitably creating a brave new world of borderless and boundless consumerism. This essay in view of political economics to realize globalization influence, especially for ¡¥Labour Rights¡¦. Because of neo-liberalism¡¦s globalization is expanding the disparity between the rich and the poor. For International Labour Organization(ILO) describes:¡uglobalization increasing unemployment rate ,a growing proportion of structural unemployment ,a growth of new jobs which for an important part are non-standard jobs(such as contract labour)¡v.The impact of globalization on labour and Trade Unions, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) argued that Trade Unions have declined. Besides, labour class has divided from ¡¥peripheral employees¡¦ and ¡¥core employees¡¦. The former to represent unskilled workers , their wage lower and job easy to replace by foreign labour. Globalization creating a crowd of migrant workers, their labour rights needs to protect. Foreign workers to leave their own country to earn a living, they are new industrial reserve army. Because their jobs belong to¡u3D¡v(dirty,dangerous,difficult). They replace peripheral employees by lower wages and bad work conditions. ILO argued must to protect. Foreign workers, because they are minimum labour standards. From this essay viewpoint, Globalization to influence global labour rights. The state, International Organization(ILO,ICFTU),transnational corporation (TNCs) are leading roles. The state to play a decisive role, because the state can use policy and laws to protect labour rights¡F ILO to play a core role from protect labour rights issue, specially its International Labour Standard (ILS,1998)¡FTNCs to play a free-will role, likes anti-sweatshop movement and corporation social responsibility (CSR). From the whole viewpoint, this essay focuses on globalization and labour rights. This article to believe globalization change labour rights, because labour migration increasing. And in the new times, leading roles will hold new influence. Taiwan in this wave of globalization wills how to suit, especially foreign workers issue.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University of Pennsylvania. / Includes bibliographical references.