Synopses & Reviews
How do a few Third World political movements become global causes célèbres, while most remain isolated? This book rejects dominant views that needy groups readily gain help from selfless nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Instead, they face a Darwinian struggle for scarce resources where support goes to the savviest, not the neediest. Examining Mexico's Zapatista rebels and Nigeria's Ogoni ethnic group, the book draws critical conclusions about social movements, NGOs, and "global civil society."
Review
"In a fascinating and important study, Bob shows that the extent to which a Third World protest or secessionist movement gains attention and Western support is not determined as much by its intrinsic merits or even strategic value as by the calculated use of NGOs. This careful account challenges many of our accepted notions of international politics and global civil society." Robert Jervis, Columbia University"Clifford Bob cuts through a great deal of sentimental cant about global civil society. Even humanitarian NGOs, he demonstrates, must engage in a kind of commerce to stay in business. The Marketing of Rebellion offers a sober, well-documented analysis of this important trend in world politics. It is a model of what patient scholarship can achieve." Jeremy Rabkin, Cornell University"[Clifford Bob] does an excellent job of showing the complexities involved in gaining international support for social movements in the developing world... This is an important book for its theoretical insights and use of case study methodology. Highly Recommended." Choice"This book is well researched and enthusiastically argued. The Marketing of Rebellion is interesting, provocative, and well realized."
Ann Marie Clark, Mobilization"[A] novel and very insightful perspective... Bob makes an important contribution to several literatures, including contentious politics, civil war, and globalization, as well as ethnic conflict and its international relations. The Marketing of Rebellion is quite useful for both undergraduate and graduate courses in comparative politics and international relations."
Stephen M. Saideman, McGill University, Perspectives on Politics"In this extremely thoughtful and elegantly written book, Clifford Bob takes issue with this view of global civil society. Where others see all harmony and goodness, Bob sees Darwinian struggle, discord, and good old-fashioned politics. Bob is absolutely right that there is a morality market animating global civil society. In this thoughtful, well-researched, and accessible book, Bob establishes himself as our best guide for understanding it."
Paul Wapner, American University, Review of International OrganizationsRarely does a book answer a question which is at once novel, interesting and important. . . . Bob's account . . . is erudite and plausible.
Pierre L. Van Den Berghe, University of Washington, Nations and NationalismA fine contribution to the growing literature on the dynamics of global information flows, The Marketing of Rebellion clarifies how media-savvy movements can shape the political agenda of the emerging 'global civil society.
Scott L. Althaus, University of Illinois, Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics[A]n insightful and thought provoking contribution [on] domestic and international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) and social movements. . . . His study shows us how self-interest, altruism, and sympathy intersect in global civil society . . . lay[ing] a strong foundation for policy-oriented research on the relationship between INGOs and local challengers. Both scholars and practitioners interested in the different dimensions of social movements will benefit from the theoretical and empirical insights provided in this book.
International Studies Review
Synopsis
This book rejects dominant views that needy political movements readily gain help from nongovernmental organizations.
About the Author
Clifford Bob is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Graduate School of Social and Public Policy at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA where he teaches courses on comparative politics, international law and organization, human rights, and ethnic conflict. He holds a PhD in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Techology. His published work includes articles in Foreign Policy (cover article), Social Problems, International Politics (lead article), American Journal of International Law (co-author), Journal of Human Rights, PS: Politics &Political Science, and Social Policy. Dr Bob has won fellowships from the Smith Richardson Foundation (Junior Faculty Program in International Security/Foreign Policy), United States Institute of Peace, Social Science Research Council/American Council of Learned Societies, Albert Einstein Institution, Harvard-MIT MacArthur Transnational Security Program, and Duquesne University.