Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics(Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics)

Social movements have an elusive power but one that is altogether real. From the French and American revolutions to the Arab Spring, and to ethnic and terrorist movements of today, contentious politics exercises a fleeting but powerful influence on politics, society and international relations. Covering key episodes up to the attack on the US Capitol in January 2021, leading scholar of politics and government Sidney Tarrow uses a number of recent, historical and comparative case studies to introduce his theory of social movements and political parties. The fourth edition of this classic study emphasizes the symbiotic relations between social movements and parties by focusing attention on the growing role of populism in Europe, Latin America, and the US; analyzes the role of social media as a mobilizing and aggregating force for social movements; highlights the relations between structural changes in the economy and new forms of contention; draws on new material on movements in the Global South and the relations between movements and democracy.

Table of Contents:
Part I. Origins, Theories and Contentious Action: 1. Where did movements come from?; 2. States, Capital, and Contention; 3. Acting contentiously; Part II. The Powers in Movement: 4. Organizations, coalitions, and hybrids; 5. Making meanings; 6. Regimes, opportunities, and threat; 7. Struggling to reform; Part III. Dynamics of Contention: 8. Cycles of contenton; 9. Movements in revolutionary cycles; 10. Movements, democracy, and undemocracy; 11. Transnational contention; Part IV. Conclusions: The future of contentious politics.

About the Author :
Sidney Tarrow is the Emeritus Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Government at Cornell University and Adjunct Professor at the Cornell Law School. Some of his recent publications include Strangers at the Gates (2012), The Language of Contention (2013), War, States, and Contention (2015), and Movements and Parties: Critical Connections in American Political Development (2021).

Review :
'Our wisest guide to social movements has done it again: produced the best book on the topic, now completely updated to encompass the Arab Spring, Black Lives Matter and so much more. Tarrow shows us how social movements have expanded their repertoires in the 21st century, the opportunities (and threats) posed by social media, and how social protests have interlinked with political parties, pushed countries to revolution, and sought to usher in democracy. Tarrow shows us not only how much the world has changed in the last decade, but how and why.' Jack A. Goldstone, Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University 'This 4th edition of Power in Movement delivers everything we've come to expect from Tarrow and even more. Fully updated to include contemporary events and new scholarship, Power in Movement is comprehensive and gracefully written. It will intrigue and entertain readers new to the field of contentious politics and will be indispensable for scholars.' David S. Meyer, Professor of Sociology, Political Science, and Planning, Policy, and Design, University of California, Irvine 'In times of multiple crises, this reflecting on the power of social movements-both the progressive and the regressive ones-is all the more relevant. This deeply revised edition of one of the most influential texts in the growing field of contentious politics contributes to and further expands our knowledge on the central topics of democratization and revolution as well as on the hybridization between party politics and social movements.' Donatella della Porta, Professor of Political Science, Director, The Center on Social Movement Studies (Cosmos), Scuola Normale Superiore 'Taking account of the momentous developments in social movements that have occurred during the past decade, the new edition of Sidney Tarrow's classic text offers fresh insights on the exalted and perilous nature of contentious politics. With a rare combination of theoretical depth, rich historical narrative, and engaging prose, Power in Movement stimulates research questions for scholars, provides students with a resonant and comprehensive guide to social and political activism, and urges citizens' attention to the growing importance of social movements in determining the fate of democracy in the United States and the world.' Sidney M. Milkis, White Burkett Miller Professor, University of Virginia 'This revised fourth edition of Power in Movement, updates valuable theoretical content on the origins and nature of social movements. As well as valuable historical context, Tarrow usefully reminds us of the characteristics of social movements … this book is a useful theoretical companion for students and activists alike.' Camilla Fitzsimons, Associate Professor, Maynooth University, Co. Kildare, Ireland