Abstract:
Non-governmental organizations and transnational networks have been increasingly
successful a t gaining influence within issue areas traditionally controlled by the state. In many
instances, non-state actors have been instrumental in forcing issues onto the global agenda, have
aided in the development or transformation of global regimes, and have participated in securing
state compliance for the adoption of new international norms.
This paper argues that, consistent with social constructivist theory, ideas are important in
influencing state preferences and change may be possible when certain factors are present. I f
non-state actors can influence states, it is meaningful to understand how this happens.
This paper focuses on a campaign led by Medecins Sans Frontieres that began in the late
1990s to acquire affordable medicines for patients in developing states that could not afford
patented drugs. The campaign reached a measure of success in that member states of the World
Trade Organization re-negotiated contested terms and meanings within the trade agreement for
intellectual property rights and allowed concessions that would benefit lower income states.
What factors contributed to the success of the campaign? And what were the most important
factors - the issue, the actors or the mechanisms used?
