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How do research alliances run parallel to activist alliances?

zoefriese

Annotation of

Collaborative Research and Activism: Tim Schütz & Zoe Friese

In response to

Transnational Alliances: What current efforts exist to communicate or collaborate with overseas communities to achieve environmental justice, and are they effective?

During my thesis project, Tim has served as a collaborator and mentor while he studied data use among activists opposing Formosa Plastics Group (FPG). In addition to connecting me with activists and interview candidates, he also introduced me to a small network of American and Taiwanese students in Taiwan and the United States studying FPG. This community can share resources and knowledge to further our individual studies. Could this academic network serve as a parallel to the transnational activist alliances I am studying? Are the strengths and barriers of research alliances reminiscent of the strengths and barriers of activist alliances?