Mapping the players on/in the field of transnational policy networks: strategic action to strengthen labour rights

Abstract This paper analyses how transnational networks can be agents for policy change in the field of migrants’ rights by demonstrating how networks can cooperate to strategically use the wider institutional environment to push norm-violating States, and organisations, towards implementing policy changes. We show the conditions under which the hosting of a global mega-sports event - Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup- can trigger transnational organising by a diverse array of actors. We argue that the network that emerged constituted a transnational policy network whose actions ultimately contributed to pushing Qatar towards labour reforms. Our analysis draws on network approaches, strategic action field theory, and process tracing methods to examine the breadth of actors and the intensity of the network’s actions to push for policy changes to be achieved within a specific time span (2010–2022). We conclude that such ‘networks of networks’ could be used to push for policy changes for migrants’ rights in other country contexts.