Social Movements and the New State: The Fate of Pro-Democracy Organizations When Democracy Is Won

“A carefully researched and theoretically innovative contribution to comparative politics.”–Laura Henry “Bowdoin College”

“As the events of Arab Spring remind us, popular movements have emerged as a major source of regime change. But there exists little systematic scholarship on the relationship between these movements and the governments they help spawn. In this timely book, Brian K. Grodsky explores exceptionally rich comparative case studies of the evolving and complicated relationship between popular struggles and ‘movement states’ in Poland, South Africa, and Georgia. His work should find a large and enthusiastic audience in comparative politics and social movement studies.”–Doug McAdam “Stanford University”

“Grodsky offers an excellent analysis of the fate of social movements when they gain the reigns of governmental power. In examining three successful social movements (Poland, South Africa, and Georgia), the author claims individual actors and their personal relationships are the critical factors . . . Recommended.”–S. Majstorovic “CHOICE“

“Grodsky’s book is a long-awaited study explaining the path of social movement organizations after regime change.”–Paulina Pospieszna “Journal of Peace Research“

“Grodsky’s rich comparison of Poland, South Africa and Georgia helps those who wish to deepen democracy and not only end authoritarianism. With a common tale of civil society enabling democratic breakthrough followed by movements’ alienation from erstwhile comrades in state power, Grodsky may not tell us what is to be done, but does tell us what happened.”–Michael D. Kennedy, Professor of Sociology and International Studies “Brown University”