×
![]( "Buchcover ISBN 9780745671987")
Social Movements in Global Politics
von David WestSocial Movements in Global Politics is a timely new accountof the unconventional, 'extra-institutional' activitiesof social movements.
In the face of impending global crises and stubborn conflicts, aconventional view of politics risks leaving us confused andfatalistic, feeling powerless because we are unaware of all thatcan be achieved by political means. By contrast, a variety ofrecent social movements, ranging from those of women, gays andlesbians and anti-racists, to environmentalists, the Occupymovement and the Arab Spring, demonstrate the enormous potential ofpolitical action beyond the institutional sphere of politics. Atthe same time, religious fundamentalists, racial supremacists andultra-nationalists make clear that movements are not necessarilyprogressive and are often at odds with one another.
West highlights the many ways in which national and globalinstitutions depend on a broader context of extra-institutionalaction or what is, in effect, the formative dimension of politics. He explores some of the major contributions of social movements: from the genealogy of liberal democratic nation-states, sixties' radicalism and the 'new socialmovements' to the politics of sexuality, gender and identity, the politicization of nature and climate, and alter-globalization. The book also considers current theoretical approaches and sets outthe basis for a critical theory of social movements. This is afresh and original account of social movements in politics and willbe essential reading for any students and scholars interested inthe challenges and the unpredictable potential of political action.
In the face of impending global crises and stubborn conflicts, aconventional view of politics risks leaving us confused andfatalistic, feeling powerless because we are unaware of all thatcan be achieved by political means. By contrast, a variety ofrecent social movements, ranging from those of women, gays andlesbians and anti-racists, to environmentalists, the Occupymovement and the Arab Spring, demonstrate the enormous potential ofpolitical action beyond the institutional sphere of politics. Atthe same time, religious fundamentalists, racial supremacists andultra-nationalists make clear that movements are not necessarilyprogressive and are often at odds with one another.
West highlights the many ways in which national and globalinstitutions depend on a broader context of extra-institutionalaction or what is, in effect, the formative dimension of politics. He explores some of the major contributions of social movements: from the genealogy of liberal democratic nation-states, sixties' radicalism and the 'new socialmovements' to the politics of sexuality, gender and identity, the politicization of nature and climate, and alter-globalization. The book also considers current theoretical approaches and sets outthe basis for a critical theory of social movements. This is afresh and original account of social movements in politics and willbe essential reading for any students and scholars interested inthe challenges and the unpredictable potential of political action.
