Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

This paper reflects on alternative approaches to re-think diplomacy and global politics. My point of departure is to analyse the transformations and democratization of diplomacy in a globalized world. The arguments develop in this paper focuses on the literature known as “global studies perspectives,” especially oriented to the study of global formations with a sociological approach. The objective is to contribute to theoretical and analytical developments to re-think diplomacy beyond structural perspectives by exploring its possibilities to recognize alternative diplomacies beyond diplomacy´s traditional thinking. I argue the relevance of rethinking alternative diplomacies to observe certain NGOs’ transnational activism on contemporary global politics as part of the social appropriation of contemporary diplomacy. Two questions orient this paper: Why is it relevant to re-think the diplomacy beyond state-centric perspectives? What analytical approach on the sociology of collective action could be developed and deepened to characterize NGO alternative diplomacies? I introduce a theoretical debate and analytical tool to identify and analyse both, the socio-political emergence and the practices of non-governmental actors as NGOs’ alternative diplomacies. Methodologically, I look to identify socio-political global phenomena beyond methodological nationalism views. Empirically, I use some experience to evidence that NGOs Alternative Diplomacies are part of contemporary global politics.