| ID | 142235 |
| Title Proper | How activists use benchmarks |
| Other Title Information | reformist and revolutionary benchmarks for global economic justice |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Seabrooke, Leonard ; LEONARD SEABROOKE ; Wigan, Duncan |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Non-governmental organisations use benchmarks as a form of symbolic violence to place political pressure on firms, states, and international organisations. The development of benchmarks requires three elements: (1) salience, that the community of concern is aware of the issue and views it as important; (2) will, that activists and issue entrepreneurs will carry the message forward; and (3) expertise, that benchmarks created can be defended as accurate representations of what is happening on the issue of concern. We contrast two types of benchmarking cycles where salience, will, and expertise are put to the test. The first is a reformist benchmarking cycle where organisations defer to experts to create a benchmark that conforms with the broader system of politico-economic norms. The second is a revolutionary benchmarking cycle driven by expert-activists that seek to contest strong vested interests and challenge established politico-economic norms. Differentiating these cycles provides insights into how activists work through organisations and with expert networks, as well as how campaigns on complex economic issues can be mounted and sustained. |
| `In' analytical Note | Review of International Studies Vol. 41, No.5; Dec 2015: p.887-904 |
| Journal Source | Review of International Studies Vol: 41 No 5 |
| Key Words | Benchmarks ; Reformist and Revolutionary Benchmarks ; Global Economic Justice |