Aligned Frames? The Basis of Political Actions against Offshoring in West Virginia and Austria

Offshoring as an element of economic globalization is contested by various social movements. Analyses of actions focus frequently on the motivation of core activists but often neglect less-involved individuals. Based on 89 in-depth interviews conducted in West Virginia and Austria, we analyze how economic changes are interpreted by the public, and if these interpretations coincide with political actions. The analysis shows that the interpretation of general economic problems is influenced strongly by the cultural context while offshoring is interpreted similarly in both countries. For actions targeting economic problems, thinking in economic models is very important in both countries. This basic frame is thus aligned with both proponents and contesters of economic globalization. Resentments, on the other hand, resonate better in Austria.