This book is designed to be a transatlantic introduction to Social Movements studies in the twenty-first century. The authors provide an authoritative account of the development of social movement studies up to and including the emergence of global social movement. A distinctive feature is its sequential treatment of 'old', 'new' and 'emergent' movement forms unavailable in other work of this kind.

Introduction to Social Movements includes proven (chapter summaries, textboxes, study questions, glossaries) and innovative pedagogical features,whilst detailed yet concise accounts of specific movements in the North and South provide a wealth of case materials making this a truely international book.

The combination of conceptual clarity, comprehensive theoretical approaches and contemporary case studies make this book a compelling resource for teaching, and an excellent learning tool for undergraduate students of politics, political and sociological theory, and cultural studies.

Contenu

Part One: Theories of Social Movement 1. Core Theories 2. Contextual Theories 3. Contemporary Theories Part Two: Social Movement Themes and Practices 4.'Old' Social Movements 5. 'New' Social Movements 6. From Post-Cold War to Network Social Movements 7. Complex Movements and Planetary Action Systems Part Three: Key Issues in Social Movement Studies 8. Methodologies 9. Debates and Disputes Conclusion The Future of Social Movements and the Future of Social Movement Studies