Anti-globalization Movements and the Collective Identity of Organizations
The emergence of alterglobalization groups and the transformation of the militant scene at the national and international levels have had an impact on many existing social movements. This set the scene for legitimizing the discourses and practices that allow organizations and groups to act in larger networks. But the conceptualization of the alterglobalization movement – a hybrid between NGOs and social movements – is problematic. This paper, rather than proposing an analysis of the most spectacular manifestations of the phenomenon, such as social forums or international protests, proposes an inside view of an organization that considers itself part of this movement. The case study of a French fair trade network examines the construction of the alterglobalization frame, beginning with the interaction between activists, the organization and its environment. It attempts to conceptualize alterglobalization from a particular case study, as a field of interaction between actors rather than as a structure.