Globalizing the Culture Wars: The United Nations Battle Over Sexual Rights

Abstract

This paper develops new theory about the clash of conservative and progressive networks over numerous global issues. Focusing on the battle over sexual rights at the United Nations, the paper explores how opposing networks shape one another and how their conflict affects policy. The conflict pits rights advocates, northern European states, and UN bureaucrats against conservative networks spanning the Christian Right, the Vatican, and Islamic states (the “Baptist-burqa” coalition). The broader hypotheses developed in the paper contribute to literatures on social movements, transnational activism, international policymaking, and globalization.

Keywords: gay rights, NGOs, UN, transnational advocacy, globalization, Christian Right, right wing, social movements, advocacy networks

JEL Classification: D79, K33, L31, L39, Z10