Contentious Politics

Two leading scholars have joined their considerable forces to assemble a conceptual framework for the study of contentious politics. A wonderful tool that should be in the toolkit of anybody who sets out to study contention, collective action, and politics. (Bert Klandermans, author of The Social Psychology of Protest and (with Nonna Mayer) Extreme Right Activists in Europe)

In this clearly written and highly accessible book, two of the world’s leading scholars of social movements offer a theoretically innovative approach to the study of political conflict, suggesting clear guidelines for the rigorous exploration of contentious politics and illustrations from around the globe. The authors present an original research program that will help students to think critically about the origins and nature of various forms of contentious politics and to make connections between seemingly disparate types of political conflict. This is a wonderful teaching tool for courses in social theory, theory construction, political sociology, and social movements. (Ron Aminzade, Professor of Sociology, University of Minnesota)

This precious little book offers not only new illustrations but new ideas destined to open new debates on social mechanisms in social movements. (Donatella della Porta, European University Institute)

A state of the art guide to analyzing conflict from two grand masters. There is no finer tool for teaching students to understand the causes, processes, and outcomes of diverse forms of political contention. (Jack A. Goldstone, Hazel Professor of Public Policy, George Mason University)