This term paper will deal with the question how these anti-TTIP groups and contestants have managed to mobilize citizens to such extents as international trade deals are not traditionally on the public agenda. I argue that these organizations, such as Campact, Attac, and Mehr Demokratie, succeeded because they framed the issue in a way that struck a chord with the general public and the sensational online community which also tapped into existing narratives of anti-globalization and distrust towards the establishment, and because they made efficient and extensive use of new media technologies to spread these frames. The focus will thus be on investigating the different framing techniques and processes that were applied by the movement as well as its inherent structure and how these factors were combined with the use of online media in an effort to challenge the European Commission of the trade deal. With this combination of successful framing and use of online media they have managed to create an extensive base for protests against TTIP and CETA that has stifled the negotiations and final ratification for three years by now. In this regard, this paper will first elaborate on the different framing techniques that were applied by the protest leaders in light of existing narratives and discourses. Following, I will take a closer look at important NGOs such as Attac and Campact
and protest groups such as Stop TTIP and TTIP unfairhandelbar [TTIP non-negotiable] and their successes in organizing and getting people onto the streets. Subsequent will be an examination of their use of online media and social media platforms that were employed to distribute these frames and mobilize the masses.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Framing a Non-Negotiable TTIP
2.1 Collective Action Frames in the Anti-TTIP Movement
2.2 Framing Processes in the Anti-TTIP Movement
3 The Role of Organization and Campaigning in the Anti-TTIP Movement
3.1 The Internal Structure of the Anti-TTIP Movement
3.2 Mobilization and Strategies of Campaigning within the Anti-TTIP Movement
4 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how anti-TTIP organizations in Germany successfully mobilized mass public opposition against a complex international trade agreement that traditionally lacks visibility on the public agenda. It explores the intersection of strategic framing techniques, organizational structures, and the efficient use of digital media technologies to influence public discourse and institutional decision-making.
- Application of diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framing within social movements.
- The influence of NGOs such as Campact and Attac in structuring the protest movement.
- The transformative role of social media and online platforms in collective action and mobilization.
- Mechanisms of converting "slacktivism" into active street-level participation.
- The impact of grassroots-driven narratives on traditional media agendas and political outcomes.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Collective Action Frames in the Anti-TTIP Movement
Collective action frames are “[…] action-oriented sets of beliefs and meanings that inspire and legitimate the activities and campaigns of a social movement organization (SMO)” (Benford and Snow, 2000, p. 614). This implies that they give meaning to events and hence have the capability to guide action and organize experience. Furthermore, they are “[…] constructed in part as movement adherents negotiate a shared understanding of some problematic condition or situation they define as in need of change, make attributions regarding who or what is to blame, articulate an alternative set of arrangements, and urge others to act in concert to affect change” (Benford and Snow, 2000, p. 615). These constructions are further subdivided into the core framing tasks of diagnostic framing, prognostic framing and motivational framing. The former two are supposed to achieve consensus mobilization while the latter provides the incentive for active participation. In order to be successful in mobilizing and appealing to a wider audience, Benford and Snow defined two preliminaries for collective action frames: “One set concerns the internal structure of the larger belief system or ideology with which the movement seeks to effect some form of alignment. Another pertains to the extent to which the framing effort is relevant to or resonates within the life world of potential participants” (1988, p. 205). These frames can later turn into master frames that are generic of a movement.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the 2015 anti-TTIP protests in Germany, framing them as a significant resurgence of public engagement in trade policy debates.
2 Framing a Non-Negotiable TTIP: This chapter analyzes how opponents defined the TTIP negotiation process, utilizing diagnostic and prognostic frames to create a collective identity and target the European Commission.
3 The Role of Organization and Campaigning in the Anti-TTIP Movement: This chapter examines the organizational structure of NGOs and the strategic use of ICTs, social media, and digital platforms to mobilize and coordinate the movement.
4 Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, highlighting the success of the anti-TTIP movement in shifting public perception through effective framing and digital mobilization, ultimately impacting political outcomes.
Keywords
TTIP, Social Movements, Framing, Collective Action, Mobilization, NGOs, Digital Activism, Social Media, Anti-Globalization, Anti-Capitalism, ISDS, Grassroots, Public Policy, Political Communication, Slacktivism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper investigates how various German anti-TTIP groups successfully mobilized mass public support against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) despite the topic's initial low public profile.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study centers on three main areas: the use of collective action framing, the structural organization of involved NGOs, and the role of online communication technologies in facilitating protests.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The objective is to explain the mechanisms—specifically framing techniques and digital mobilization—by which these groups successfully challenged the legitimacy of the trade agreement and influenced political discourse.
Which scientific methods are applied in this study?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on theoretical frameworks of framing processes and social movement theory, supported by empirical data from surveys and media studies regarding the anti-TTIP movement.
What specific topics are explored in the main body of the work?
The main body explores the specific diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framing tasks used by activists, the internal organization of networks like "Stop TTIP," and the influence of social media on traditional political gatekeepers.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key concepts include social movement framing, digital activism, collective action identity, political mobilization, and the impact of NGOs on trade agreement negotiations.
How did NGOs leverage social media differently from traditional media?
The paper identifies that NGOs utilized social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook to create viral campaigns and emotional spaces, effectively bypassing traditional journalistic gatekeepers to reach and mobilize the masses directly.
How does the author define the role of "slacktivism" within this movement?
The author argues that while many participants start as "slacktivists" via online engagement, these platforms provide a space that effectively transforms them into active protesters by fostering a sense of collective identity.
- Citar trabajo
- Katharina Lurz (Autor), 2017, The Anti-TTIP Movement in Germany. The Role of Framing and Information and Communication Technologies in Mobilizing the Masses, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/432061
