Erosion of the National- State

Lessons from the Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade and adoption of the Ottawa treaty

Disbanqishment with the African slave trade and the enactment of the Ottawa treaty remain excellent illustrations of the powerfulness of international activism and networks shaping global politics.

Abolition of the Atlantic Slave Trade

The abolition of the Atlantic Slave trade was a success story of collective action, international cooperation and grassroots advocacy, which led to the decriminalization of this trade. Transnational networks were critical actors in the fight against Atlantic Slavery. Such organizations as the Society for Effecting the Abolition of Slavery and later the Anti-Slavery Society ultimately succeeded in bringing to the public spotlight both the horror of the Slave Trade and in lobbying the government and helping people to recognize it. These networks used ethical appeals, legal arguments, and economic pressure to shift decision-making from the general public to key political figures and ultimately abolished the slave trade in the 19th century.

Adoption of the Ottawa Treaty

As in the case of the adoption of the Ottawa Treaty, the competencies of transnational advocacy networks to overcome global issues of immediate importance have been confirmed. The treaty, which aimed at banning anti-personnel mines and providing recuperation for injured people, was made as a result of joint efforts by governments, NGOs, and international organizations. A specific group of advocacy organizations, like the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), have been historically involved in the process, mainly through mobilization, data provision and Introduction of the treaty to the governmental representatives. The ICBL and its allies, by framing the issue as a human tragedy and using the media to generate support for the treaty, created overwhelming momentum, and its adoption in 1997 was a diplomatic success.

Parallels and Contrasts with Climate Change Treaty Efforts

Parallels

Thus, the abolition of the Atlantic trade in enslaved people and the signing of the Ottawa Treaty prove the effectiveness of grassroots activism, (political) coalition-building, and moral argumentation. These are the key elements to bringing about political change on a global scale. This had both uses of trans-border networks that could frame the issues, galvanize public opinion, and motivate the government to take action.

Contrasts

On the contrary, transnational coalitions striving to attain a world deal on climate change have specific challenges. Unlike the slave trade and the abolishment of anti-personnel mines, which required concerted action among various stakeholders, such as government, businesses, and civil society, dealing with climate change needs a coordinated approach among a multifarious cross-section of stakeholders. The sophistication of the matter, clashing interests, and the nature of climate change in the long run make it very hard to reach a consensus and meaningful progress at the international level. Another important problem is the lack of clearly observable impact and influence of powerful groups of interests, which also play a central part in driving climate change.

Conclusion

Arguably, the key points to be drawn from dismantling the Atlantic Slave trade and the sealing of the Ottawa Treaty serve to emphasize that international politics is determined mainly by transborder activism, strategic advocacy, and coalitions. The triumphs of the successful campaigns provide us with valuable insights about the best advocacy strategies; however, the challenges of climate change suggest the revolution of inventive practices, increased involvement, and united action to overcome the obstacles and achieve tangible results primarily related to the environmental issue.

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