This book provides the most comprehensive historical account of the birth and spread of social movements as a form of contentious politics to decrease categorical inequalities. This new edition reflects upon contemporary movements using Charles Tilly's renowned framework and adds fully updated discussion questions for students.

Preface to First Edition. Preface to Second and Third Editions. Preface to Fourth Edition. Timeline for Part I. Part I. A Theory and History of Social Movements. 1. Social Movements as Politics. 2. Inventions of the Social Movement. 3. Nineteenth-Century Adventures. 4. Twentieth-Century Expansion and Transformation. 5. Social Movements Enter the Twenty-First Century. 6. Democratization and Social Movements. 7. Futures of Social Movements. Part II. Case Studies Contemporary Social Movements. 8. Analyzing Contemporary Social Movements. 9. The Movement for Immigrant Rights. 10. Challenging the 1 Percent: The Indignados and Occupy. 11. The Movement for Catalan Independence. 12. Social Movements in Contemporary Mexico. 13. The Movement for Black Lives. 14. Mass Incarceration and Prisoner Rights. 15. Anonymous: Digital Vigilantes. Discussion Questions. References. Publications on Social Movements by Charles Tilly. Index. About the Authors.