Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, so-called "anti-globalisation" protesters have become an expected,
though to many an unwelcome feature at almost all meetings of international
institutions and at intergovernmental summits. The protesters are usually portrayed
as senselessly violent anarchists, ridiculed in the media as eccentrics and outsiders,
while academics have as yet paid them little or no attention.
This study attempts to determine whether the predominantly negative perception of
the protesters is justified, or whether there is some merit to their concerns. The
vague umbrella term anti-globalisation protesters tends to disguise the fact that
many different and diverse groups are involved in the protest. Elements of social
movement studies are drawn upon to structure the analysis of a number of groups
that are represented on occasions of protest.
The analysis reveals that the protests are well-organised, active in international
networks, and rely very much on the internet to co-ordinate their efforts. From the
perspective of social movement studies, the anti-globalisation league represents an
interesting new phenomenon. This is due to its simultaneous presence in a multitude
of countries, as well as its non-state focus. Effectively, the movement transcends
state boundaries and state structures.
The changing face of international politics is at the root of the formation of the antiglobalisation
movement. A perceived loss of sovereignty and increased international
multilateral co-operation has reduced the effectiveness of domestic and state-based
campaigning and created an opportunity, if not the necessity, to form transnational
groups that have international institutions as their focal point of protest.
It is submitted that the movement may be a source for unconventional ideas that
could go some way in addressing various problems related to the ever-advancing
process of globalisation. This may be accomplished by way of greater formalisation
of the movement, and possibly with support from other prominent voices who are not
anti-globalisation activists as such, yet in essence share many of the concerns of the
protesters. In this way, the anti-globalisation movement could develop into a credible
entity to complement the functioning of existing international institutions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Protes aksies teen globalisering is gedurende die laaste paar jare 'n bekende, maar
nie noodwendig 'n welkome verskynsel by feitlik alle vergaderings van internasionale
organisasies en staatsberade. In die algemeen word die protesteerders beskou as
gewelddadige anargiste, en word hulle in die pers as eienaardige buitestaanders
beskryf. Academici het tot dusver ook nie veel aandag aan hierdie verskynsel bestee
nie.
Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stelof die meestal negatiewe opvattings van
deelname in aktiewe protes teen globalisering geregverdig is. Die besware van die
aktiviste is dalk realisties en nie ongegrond nie. Die vae begrip van anti-globalisering
protesteerders is misleidend, omdat dit die groot aantal verskillende groepe tydens
die protesaksies verberg. Beginsels van sosiale bewegingsstudies is geraadpleeg
om die analise van verskeie groepe wat by protesaksies teenwoordig is, te
struktureer.
Hierdie analise wys dat die deelnemers aan protesaksies goed georganiseerd is, en
dat hulle baie aktief is in internasionale netwerke, en hoofsaaklik op die internet staat
maak om hulle bedrywighede te koordineer. Vanuit die standpunt van sosiale
bewegingsstudies is die anti-globalisering aksie 'n baie interessante verskynsel
omdat die beweging in baie lande teenwoordig is, en omdat dit nie staatsentries is
nie. Staatsgrense en tradisionele staatstruktuure word dus oorskry.
Veranderinge in die internasionale politieke arena is beslis die rede vir die vorming
van die anti-globaliseringsbeweging. Dit word beweer dat die toename in
internasionale multilaterale samewerking die trefkrag van aktivisme binne die grense
en die konteks van die staat verminder het. Die geleentheid, en dalk
noodsaaklikheid, is dus geskep om internasionale groepe te vorm wat hul protes op
internasionale organisasies fokus.
Die studie stel voor dat die beweging dalk die oorsprong van onkonvensionele idees
kan wees wat baie van die negatiewe effekte en probleme wat verbonde is met die
globaliseringsproses, sal aanspreek en help om hulle op te los. Voordat dit kan
gebeur, moet die beweging egter 'n meer formele vorm aanneem, 'n proses wat
beslis gesteun sal word deur groepe en indiwidue wat nie noodwendig anti-globalisering aktiviste is nie, maar wel baie van dieselfde belange het. Op hierdie
manier sal dit dalk moontlik wees vir die anti-globaliseringsbeweging om "n
geloofwaardige entiteit te word, wat die werk van bestaande internasionale
organisasies sal komplimenteer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53031 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Holtz, Brigitte Elke |
| Contributors | Leysens, Anthony J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 61 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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