Extralocal Networking and Environmental Community Groups Within Anti-Democratic 'Globalisation' Processes: Development of a Methodological Framework

Abstract

This thesis examines the new global politics of ecological resistance against neoliberal governance and the important role of ECGs as conduits in creating what Freyberg-Inan (2006) terms 'randomisation' and hence change in the organisation of political structures toward an emancipatory politics through participation in network-based 'scalar politics'. It specifically focuses on Environmental Community Groups [ECGs] and the conditions under which they transcend their locality to participate in 'scalar politics' to achieve social change. The aim of this thesis is the development of a methodological framework linking critical-constructivist-complexity [3C] principles to a conceptual model examining the factors associated with facilitating and hindering ECG extralocal networking [ELN] with a proposed research study guiding future comparative and crossnational empirical research. This study will also make an important contribution in furthering the development of a 3C social movement theory of change.