The Global Right Wing and the Clash of World Politics

This book is an eye-opening account of transnational advocacy, not by environmental and rights groups, but by conservative activists. Mobilizing around diverse issues, these networks challenge progressive foes across borders and within institutions. In these globalized battles, opponents struggle as much to advance their own causes as to destroy their rivals. Deploying exclusionary strategies, negative tactics and dissuasive ideas, they aim both to make and unmake policy. In this work, Clifford Bob chronicles combat over homosexuality and gun control in the UN, the Americas, Europe and elsewhere. He investigates the ‘Baptist-burqa’ network of conservative believers attacking gay rights, and the global gun coalition blasting efforts to control firearms. Bob draws critical conclusions about norms, activists and institutions, and his broad findings extend beyond the culture wars. They will change how campaigners fight, scholars study policy wars, and all of us think about global politics.

Author Biography

Clifford Bob is Associate Professor of Political Science at Duquesne University. He is the author of The Marketing of Rebellion: Insurgents, Media, and International Activism, which won the 2007 International Studies Association Best Book Award, co-won the 2007 North Central Sociological Association Scholarly Achievement Award and was named a ‘Top Book of 2006’ by The Globalist. His edited volume, The International Struggle for New Human Rights, was released in 2009 and he has published widely in political science, sociology, law and policy. His scholarly interests include human rights, globalization, nongovernmental organizations and transnational advocacy networks. He holds a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a JD from New York University and a BA magna cum laude from Harvard University.