Social movements in the United States are important political actors because of their scale and duration, their generation of new ideas and understandings of existing problems, their ability to mobilize those who were previously passive citizens, and the impetus they provide for restructuring and broadening the agenda of American politics. This volume combines chapters by a distinguished group of social movement scholars, from both sociology and political science, who use perspectives ranging from political process theory to rational choice and collective action approaches to evaluate the functioning of institutions of American government and the public policies that they produce. A diverse group of movements and interests are featured: women, public interest, native America, the environment, the Christian Right, abortion, gay rights, and homelessness among them.

Chapter 1 IntroductionPart 2 Theories of American Politics and Social MovementsChapter 3 Social Movements and Theories of American PoliticsChapter 4 "The Very Excess of Democracy": State Building and Contentious Politics in AmericaChapter 5 Interest Organizations and the Study of Democratic PoliticsPart 6 MobilizationChapter 7 Mobilizing Gay ActivistsChapter 8 Mobilization at the Margins: Organizing by the HomelessChapter 9 Use of the Initiative Process by Woman Suffrage MovementsPart 10 Parties and ElectionsChapter 11 Less than Conquerors: The Christian Right in State Republican PartiesChapter 12 Citizen Groups, Political Parties, and Electoral CoalitionsPart 13 The Presidency and CongressChapter 14 American Social Movements and Presidential AdministrationsChapter 15 Women Lobby CongressChapter 16 The Environmental Movement and CongressPart 17 Social Movements in CourtChapter 18 Social Movements and the Mobilization of LawChapter 19 Litigation as RebellionChapter 20 Social Movements and Abortion LawPart 21 ConclusionsChapter 22 On the International Origins of Domestic Political OpportunitiesChapter 23 Where Have All the Foils Gone? Competing Theories of Social MovementsChapter 24 Conclusions