Contemporary Social Movements

Presents an essential guide to understanding the dynamics of today's global social movements

Contemporary Social Movements: Descriptive & Historical Accounts responds to the urgent need for comprehensive, accessible overviews of the most consequential social movements shaping our world. Edited by renowned scholars in the field of social movements, this timely volume offers rich, empirically grounded, and historically situated portraits of 33 major contemporary movements. From the climate strike campaigns and #MeToo to right-wing populism and Islamist extremism, these movements reflect the multifaceted nature of modern collective action and the wide array of issues confronting societies across the globe.

Contemporary Social Movements brings together original contributions from leading experts, each tasked with describing the origins, trajectories, goals, and contemporary significance of a specific movement. Accessible chapters span seven thematic sections, including democratic struggles, economic and environmental justice, race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, political polarization, and extremism. The book emphasizes descriptive clarity over theory-building, making it especially valuable for readers seeking to understand how movements emerge, evolve, and contend with power.

Providing a balanced and comprehensive view of a global range of movements, including progressive, conservative, and extremist groups, Contemporary Social Movements:

• Offers 33 original, expertly written chapters by leading scholars with deep expertise in the specific movements they analyze
• Reflects key areas of contemporary contention, from democracy and economics to identity and the environment
• Addresses both proactive and reactive forms of collective action, helping readers understand the full spectrum of movement dynamics
• Features movements often overlooked or misunderstood in mainstream discourse, such as AI safety activism and Hindu nationalism
• Contextualizes movements in relation to broader political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments
• Includes contemporary examples with immediate relevance, such as MAGA and Black Lives Matter

Encouraging critical engagement with the role of collective action in shaping societal change, Contemporary Social Movements: Descriptive & Historical Accounts is ideal for undergraduate and graduate students in sociology, political science, global studies, and related fields. It is particularly relevant for courses on social movements, contentious politics, and social problems within BA, MA, and PhD degree programs.