Synopses & Reviews
Review
"
Social Movements: An Introduction provides a comprehensive and critical introduction to this developing literature both in Europe and the USA. The book provides a critical guide through debates around identity, and how involement in movements affects participant's sense of their own identity, in turn."
Marjorie Mayo, Goldsmith's College, University of London, UK "As the most up-to-date and comprehensive review of soical movements studies,this book will undoubtedly secure a wide readership. The bibliography of over fourty pages is a particularly excellent resource and will be of great value both to students and researchers." Robert Gibb, University of Central Lancashire
"Social network analysis has come to the forefront in the study of social movements, and the highly technical aspect of social network theory may be new to many students of social movements and collective action. Diani and Della Porta present the complex concepts involved in the theory in a novice-friendly manner, and direct readers to the critical literature." Mobilization
Synopsis
This superlative introduction critically discusses current studies of contemporary, social movements in Western societies. It examines the central problems for the analysis of contemporary social movements and integrates new approaches worldwide since the 1970s. It carefully emphasizes the most recent research findings and theoretical insights, paying systematic attention to the growing international body of literature.
This accessible introduction will be essential reading for anyone studying social movements in sociology and political science.
About the Author
Donatella Della Porta is Professor of Political Science at the University of Florence. Her publications in English include
Social Movements and Violence (1992),
Social Movements, Political Violence and the State (1995), and
Policing Protest (with Herbert Reiter, 1998).
Mario Diani is Professor of Sociology at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and European Editor of Mobilization. His books in English include Studying Collective Action (with Ron Eyerman, 1992) and Green Networks (1995).
Table of Contents
List of Figures and Tables.
Acknowledgements.
1. The Study of Social Movements: Collective Behaviors, Rational Actions, Protests, and New Conflicts.
2. Social Movements and Structural Change.
3. Symbolic Production by Social Movements.
4. Collective Identity.
5. Movement Networks.
6. Social Movements and Organizational Form.
7. Forms, Repertoires and Cycles of Protest.
8. The Political Context of Social Movements.
9. Social Movement Outcomes.
Notes.
References.
Index.