The following is an extract from a review of nine publications, entitled ‘Transnational Activism’, published by Tomás Mac Sheoin for the journal Global Social Policy (Vol. 7(1) pp.105–110) in 2007.

Shut them Down!, which is exceptionally well illustrated, is essentially a collection of reflections on and accounts of the Gleneagles G8 2005 mobilization by British activists: it includes useful accounts of specific issues such as the organization of camps, food, toilet and information provision, the experience of children, clowning tactics, community gardening and dealing with the media; unfortunately it lacks a chapter on funding. The anthology combines analysis by movement intellectuals, such as John Holloway, George Caffentzis and Werner Bonefeld, with a variety of anonymous and pseudonymous activists. Particularly useful is the extended article by Alex Trocchi et al., which traces the history of organization against Gleneagles.

The Gleneagles mobilization is criticized on two grounds: first its failure to refer to the national and local impacts of neo-liberalism over the last two decades (p. 216), and second its failure to confront the coalition between development NGOs and their funders in the British government. Here the volume illuminates the divisions in civil society: Paul Hewson considers the role played by the Make Poverty History (MPH) coalition in co-opting much of the concern over global poverty into spectacular and consumerist activities, and notes how 'the major civil society mobilisation for the G8 – MPH – comprising the major trade unions, development NGOs and faith groups with “political celebrities” shamelessly organised in favour of the summit' (p. 138). He concludes that ‘MPH succeeded in simultaneously mobilising hundreds of thousands of people to Scotland but away from the G8’ (p. 144). The book also shows a progression in the ways in which activists interpret mobilizations. In the words of Ben Trott ‘Summit mobilisations, then, should begin to be recognised (by both their proponents and their critics) not as an attempt to strike a blow to the very heart of capitalism, but as an opportunity to catch a glimpse of, experience and help build possible future worlds’ (p. 227).