The book begins by looking at non-violent direct action in historical context, tracing its evolution from the end of the Second World War to the present day. It examines the association between direct action and the social movements of recent decades and charts its role in the new global movement against neo-liberal economic policies. The second part of the book relates direct action to political theory to ascertain how it fits with theories of liberal, republican and deliberative democracy. It goes on to consider socialist and cosmopolitan approaches to democracy and popular resistance and concludes by looking at the implications of protest politics for current democratic thinking and contemporary world events.

This book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of international politics and political theory.

"This book is the place to turn if you want a convenient summary of theoretical debates on deliberative democracy, globalization, liberalism and a host of related topics."
Brian Martin, Journal of Peace Research

"Should be required reading for church leaders, social justice committees and those concerned about the recent trends in Australian politics."
Insights

April Carter is Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Queensland.