Description
In 2018, the UN Global Compact for Migration (GCM) was signed by a majority of countries. The GCM was the first intergovernmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. 17 countries, among them Italy, Austria, Hungary and Poland, abstained or voted against this non-binding agreement as they feared interference in their national sovereignty. The polarizing potential of the GCM, that supposedly sets global regulations against national policies, has been fuelled by far-right actors throughout Europe. Framing the decision on the GCM as a referendum against the allegedly liberal governance of migration in the European Union, movements and parties launched a multi-faceted campaign that generated protest and spurred advocacy networks transnationally. In fact, there has been an orchestrated attempt to influence public opinion on migration and to mobilize opposition to the GCM. This paper scrutinizes how far-right actors in Germany, Great Britain and France have tried to affect the decision making of their respective governments and which repertoires they used to spread alternative narratives. Choosing three countries which did sign the agreement, we are especially interested in how the protest tactics of different types of actors align, how interpersonal networks play out and how media activism forms transnationally. Additionally, we pay special attention to the overlapping mobilization potential of the Brexit campaign in the UK, the Yellow Vest Movement in France and the PEGIDA protests in Germany. Based on an analysis of primary sources and a protest event analysis, our paper offers new insights on the dynamics of cross-movement mobilizations that are especially facilitated by a savvy use of digital technologies and coordinated disinformation by alternative media actors.
