ABSTRACT
The chapter explores the transnational diffusion of protest against TTIP and CETA. The first section of the chapter explores why TTIP and CETA provoked massive resistance across the EU, focusing on the dangers they posed not only to food, environment, and labour standards but also to democratic sovereignty. The second section explores the presence of German left-wing and Green political parties and NGOs that participated actively in the campaign, creating a centralized digital platform and orchestrating the campaign across the EU. I then trace the diffusion of opposition to TTIP and CETA from Green left players to the far right and focus on the strategic agency of far right players who attempted to appropriate the cause. In the fourth section, I analyze the failed diffusion of protests against TTIP and CETA and find that, similarly to the case of anti-austerity protests, in Central and Eastern Europe there were few players with experience from the alter-globalization movement, and what is more, they had almost no access to mainstream media. The final fifth section of the chapter summarizes the main findings and provides some key takeaways for activists, including how to follow up on issues and avoid appropriation by the far right.
