This lively textbook integrates theory and methodology into the study of social movements, and includes contemporary case studies to engage students and encourage them to apply theories critically. A wide range of protest cases are explored, from American, European and global arenas, including contemporary examples of political violence and terrorism, alter-globalisation, social networking and global activism. Key chapter features encourage students to engage critically with the material: method points uncover the methodology behind the theories, helping students to understand the larger study of social movements; debate points highlight classic arguments in social movement studies, encouraging students to critically assess theoretical approaches; and case studies connect theories to cases, allowing students to relate key principles to real-world examples. A companion website offers additional student and instructor resources, including lecture slides and worksheets.
1. Introduction: conceptualizing social movements; 2. From the mad to the sane: collective behaviour and its critics; 3. From the rational to the relational: resource mobilization, organization, and social movement networks; 4. From political processes to cultural processes: political opportunity, frames, and contentious politics; 5. From old to new social movements: capitalism, culture, and the reinvention of everyday life; 6. From national to global social movements: network movements, alternative globalization, and new media; 7. From the pretty to the ugly: terrorism, social movement theory, and covert networks; 8. From collective behaviour to misbehaviour: redrawing the boundaries of political and cultural resistance; 9. Conclusion: the shifting terrain of social movement studies.
