Social Movements, 1768-2012

Wood (sociology, York U., Canada) and the late Tilly (formerly, social science, Columbia U., US) explore the emergence, growth, and common features of social movements around the world. They present a historical analysis that shows that social movements, emerging in the 18th century, should be seen as interactive campaigns in which connected (and often shifting) groups of claimants interact with the objects of their claims and with third parties such as constituents, allies, rival claimants, enemies, authorities, and various publics. They also argue that social movements combine three kinds of claims--program, identity, and standing--and the relative salience of these claims varies significantly among social movements, among claimants within movements, and among phases of movements. Social movements, they contend, assert popular sovereignty and are more likely to arise in situations of democratization. They also consider social movements as a form of political entrepreneurship; the way social movements spread through communication and collaboration; and the ways in which the forms and claims of social movements vary and evolve historically. This edition has been updated to include discussion of social movements that have arisen in response to the global economic crisis, as well as the prodemocracy social movements that succeeded in recently overthrowing dictators in Tunisia and Egypt. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)