ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how diverse NGOs process conflicts over common agendas within transnational NGO networks focuses on the stories of individual activists. Conflict within transnational social movements is common. NGO networks experience conflicts regarding goals and means, common frames, and competition over resources. Transnational social movements need social infrastructure to communicate ideas and practices. NGO collaboration is important to IGOs because IGOs rely on NGOs to find common ground on policy issues across national boundaries and generate options for resolving conflicts. Conflict within social movement tends to be thought of as an obstacle to building social movements. NGOs use conflict to develop transnational social movements and build consensus around issues of common concern. Focusing on struggles for common meaning highlights the importance of social movement tools, strategic framing processes, repertoires of contention and activist identity formation, at an international level.
