International Encyclopedia of Communication Online

Extract

Transnational social movements engage in communication processes as well as the creation of media products in their strategic work toward social change. Media attention to these efforts as well becomes part of the ongoing struggle to promote social justice, political opportunities, and economic equality. The bridging of social movement interests across national boundaries signals the importance of issues beyond narrowly defined territories along with the coordinated efforts of actors across political boundaries (→  Transnational Civil Society ; Social Movements and Communication ). Social movements offer a critical vehicle for engaging in strategic change across a variety of circumstances and for promoting varied goals and processes. The wide variation across these collectives and organizations that exists is worth noting, given the impact this has on constructing generalizable analyses from the particular historical and structural conditions of any given group (→  Generalizability ). Some of the potential distinctions to consider might include the degree to which the social movement's agenda resonates with dominant or competing ideological tendencies, the potential to mobilize financial as well as social and cultural resources toward political gain, and other elements of the context within which the movement is attempting to achieve critical change. At issue here are those movements ... log in or subscribe to read full text