• Why and how do social movements emerge?
• In which ways are social movements analysed?
• Can our understanding be enhanced by new perspectives?

This new approach transcends the barriers which still often divide European and North American perspectives of social movements, and also those which divide recent approaches from the older 'collective behaviour' approach. The result is a theoretical framework which is uniquely equipped for the demands of modern social movement analysis.

The clear and concise style of the text, as well as its neat summaries of key concepts and approaches, will make this book invaluable for undergraduate courses. It will also be an essential reference for researchers.

'...a clear and accessible overview of both classical and more recent theoretical approaches in social movement research.

...a well written book that makes a persuasive case for revisiting the work of classical social movement theorists, and a stimulating reflection on the applicability of Bourdieu theory of practice within social movement research.

...an important and thought-provoking contribution to the to the social movements literature' - Robert Gibb

Nick Crossley is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Manchester. His studies of social movements have included a detailed analysis of the UK anti-psychiatry and psychiatric survivor movements, and an investigation of the relationship of movement politics to higher education. His previous publications include The Politics of Subjectivity (1994), Intersubjectivity (1996), and The Social Body (2001).