In explaining how national environments mold INGOs, Stroup provides important insights into the strengths and limitations of these entities. Borrowing from social movement scholar Sidney Tarrow, Stroup defines INGOs as "rooted cosmopolitans"— grounded in nation-states yet striving to affirm global values. Borders among Activists should be required reading for anyone interested in navigating the sea of organizations in the age of globalization.—American Journal of Sociology (May 2013)
Sarah Stroup's excellent new book shows that such convergence claims are overblown, at least if humanitarian and human rights INGOs are any measure.... Overall, Stroup's book is a much-needed corrective to the too-easy assumption that a "global civil society" is emerging. Borders among Activists helps initiate an important new area of study, on the "varieties of activism".... Stroup’s careful analysis offers a reliable conceptual and methodological guide to tackling the issue." — Clifford Bob, Mobilization: An International Quarterly (Winter 2013)
"Overall, Stroup's book is a much-needed corrective to the too-easy assumption that a "global civil society" is emerging. . . . Stroup's work opens the door to greater scholarly focus on the tensions within what are often claimed to be “global" movements for rights or the environment.”—Clifford Bob, Mobilization (Winter 2013)
"A main strength of the book is its research design. While most studies of INGO's apply single case study method, the cross- and within-country comparative case analysis method sets a precedence for future studies. With this well-rounded research design and a sound analytical framework, Stroup makes a compelling case of national influence on INGOs. Academics and scholars in the fields of NGO studies, international development and global politics would find this book particularly interesting. The detailed case analyses of organizational strategies and practices may also help INGO leaders design programs and adopt practices that fit both national and global context."—Lili Wang, Voluntas (April 2014)
"In Borders among Activists, Sarah S. Stroup argues that domestic national factors play a significant role in shaping the structures and activities of international nongovernmental organizations. This 'sociology of activism' is an important and original argument that runs counter to the current hunch that global forces are causing NGOs to adopt similar characteristics, strategies, and goals. Stroup convincingly makes her case that national forces still matter, especially when discussing the different national histories of charity and philanthropy."—Michael Barnett, George Washington University, author of Empire of Humanity: A History of Humanitarianism
"In the hullabaloo over the birth of a 'global civil society' over the last two decades, it was often forgotten that most civil society organizations that operate internationally have deep ties to national roots. In an elegantly crafted book based on original evidence from a study of British, American and French humanitarian and human rights groups, Sarah S. Stroup shows how their national origins affect their organizations and strategies. These ties not only make international convergence unlikely but also help to explain their frequently lamented failures in the field. This book deserves a prominent place among the classics in the field of transnational activism."—Sidney Tarrow, author of The New Transnational Activism
"Borders Among Activists is an outstanding book examining the role of national environments in shaping political strategies of international NGOs. The theoretical argument is novel and the empirical evidence compelling. It is a must-read for scholars studying NGOs and activist groups, as well as the broader political changes associated with globalization."—Aseem Prakash, University of Washington, Seattle
