ABSTRACT
The very concept of transnational solidarity implies the overcoming of the fragmentation caused by physical separation and the formation of a collective actor pursuing a common goal across space. ‘The practice of labor solidarity is . . . a process of opening up the landscape and making the connections between workers in different parts of the globe visible’ (Herod, 2003: 509). The widespread (though far from universal) provision of a fast, cheap and technologically homogeneous global communications network therefore opens new possibilities for transnational labour solidarity. As a ‘technology . . . that is able to “shrink” or “create” space’ (Brey, 1998), the Internet allows workers both to take action across distance easily and create new locations where solidarity action can take place. It has the potential not merely to make traditional forms of international solidarity more effective (e.g. by enabling easier contact, better coordination or the faster dissemination of information) but also to develop original forms of solidarity action based on exploiting opportunities created by information and communications technologies (ICTs) themselves.
