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ISA Handbook in Contemporary Sociology

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International Sociology
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Leveraging Local Action

Grassroots Initiatives and Transboundary Collaboration in the Formation of the White Carpathian Euroregion

Joann Carmin

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, jcarmin{at}mit.edu

Barbara Hicks

New College of Florida, bhicks{at}ncf.edu

Andreas Beckmann

World Wide Fund for Nature, Austria, andreas.beckmann{at}wwf.at

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become influential actors in policy and political decision-making. Using a case study of the formation of the White Carpathian Euroregion, this article examines how the actions of local and regional NGOs change in response to shifting political opportunities and how these groups can influence domestic policy and relations between states. The results suggest that NGOs work to advance their agendas by relying on strategies based on communication, leverage and community development. As new political conditions emerge, NGOs rely on the same general strategies, but vary the specific tactics they select based on the degree of political access and receptivity. This study further demonstrates that when domestic NGOs pursue a long-term vision, even when the political context is not favorable, they can gain credibility and establish a basis for action that they can then leverage to foster local, regional and international change when new political opportunities emerge.

Key Words: cross-border cooperation • Czech and Slovak Republics • non-governmental organizations • political opportunities • strategies and tactics

International Sociology, Vol. 18, No. 4, 703-725 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0268580903184004
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