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Civil Society Activism under US Free Trade Agreements: the Effects of Actorness on Decent Work
[journal article]
Abstract US free trade agreements comprise unique provisions that enable civil society to present public complaints against labor rights violations occurring in the US or its trade partners. To date, a variety of complainants have used these mechanisms, including (inter)national trade unions, human rights or... view more
US free trade agreements comprise unique provisions that enable civil society to present public complaints against labor rights violations occurring in the US or its trade partners. To date, a variety of complainants have used these mechanisms, including (inter)national trade unions, human rights organizations, and a priest. And yet, little is known about the submissions’ nature of agency and the effects it has on the procedural continuations to address illicit labor practices. To fill this research lacuna, this article employs a multidisciplinary framework of ‘actorness’ that measures the submitters’ diversity (professionalism/non-professionalism, collectivism/individualism, transnationalism/nationalism) and their effectiveness (rejection/acceptance of submissions and further procedural follow-ups). Combining quantitative examination with in-depth analysis of two diverse cases of actorness, and drawing on expert interviews, public reports, and minutes of meetings, the study reveals that the majority of public submissions were of professional, collective, and transnational nature. However, contrary to what extant literature suggests, this is not a guarantee that they achieve more far-reaching procedural steps in the protection of workers. Non-professional, individual, and national actorness can compensate for the advantages of professionalism, collectivism, and transnationalism.... view less
Keywords
United States of America; free trade; international agreement; labor law; working conditions; humanized work; civil society; appeal; law; effectiveness
Classification
International Relations, International Politics, Foreign Affairs, Development Policy
Law
Document language
English
Publication Year
2017
Page/Pages
p. 40-48
Journal
Politics and Governance, 5 (2017) 4
Issue topic
Labour Standards in a Global Environment
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed