Overview

Recent years have seen an enormous increase in protests across the world in which citizens have challenged what they see as a deterioration of democratic institutions and the very civil, political and social rights that form the basis of democratic life. Beginning with Iceland in 2008, and then forcefully in Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, Greece and Portugal, or more recently in Peru, Brazil, Russia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Ukraine, people have taken to the streets against what they perceive as a rampant and dangerous corruption of democracy, with a distinct focus on inequality and suffering. This timely new book addresses the anti-austerity social movements of which these protests form part, mobilizing in the context of a crisis of neoliberalism. Donatella della Porta shows that, in order to understand their main facets in terms of social basis, strategy, and identity and organizational structures, we should look at the specific characteristics of the socioeconomic, cultural and political context in which they developed. The result is an important and insightful contribution to understanding a key issue of our times, which will be of interest to students and scholars of political and economic sociology, political science and social movement studies, as well as political activists.

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9780745688596

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Reviews

This book, written by one of the foremost theorists of social movements, offers a new way to theorise the complex conjuncture of late neo-liberalism, a 'precariat' that includes the young and educated. and a legitimacy crisis of our political institutions and how this plays out in the squares of Europe, America and the Middle East. Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics

This book, written by one of the foremost theorists of social movements, offers a new way to theorise the complex conjuncture of late neo-liberalism, a 'precariat' that includes the young and educated. and a legitimacy crisis of our political institutions and how this plays out in the squares of Europe, America and the Middle East. Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics Scholars of social movements have largely ignored capitalism in recent years, but Donatella della Porta shows how a crisis of neoliberal capitalism has provided the main motives and solidarities for recent protests against economic austerity and political corruption. Hers is a very important and original attempt to bridge political economy and contentious politics. Jeff Goodwin, New York University Among scholars of contemporary social movements, della Porta is unique in combining inquiry about resources for mobilization, political cleavages, and diverse experiences of neoliberal capitalism Highly recommended. Choice Della Porta s argument is complex, but coherent and convincing. The book helps shed light on the political-economic dimension of anti-austerity protests. The renewed focus on capitalism resonates with the current debate on causes and effects of inequality (for example, Piketty, Stiglitz), and should trigger more research. Thomas Mattig, Democratization

This book, written by one of the foremost theorists of social movements, offers a new way to theorise the complex conjuncture of late neo-liberalism, a 'precariat' that includes the young and educated. and a legitimacy crisis of our political institutions and how this plays out in the squares of Europe, America and the Middle East. Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics Scholars of social movements have largely ignored capitalism in recent years, but Donatella della Porta shows how a crisis of neoliberal capitalism has provided the main motives and solidarities for recent protests against economic austerity and political corruption. Hers is a very important and original attempt to bridge political economy and contentious politics. Jeff Goodwin, New York University Among scholars of contemporary social movements, della Porta is unique in combining inquiry about resources for mobilization, political cleavages, and diverse experiences of neoliberal capitalism Highly recommended. Choice Della Porta's argument is complex, but coherent and convincing. The book helps shed light on the political-economic dimension of anti-austerity protests. The renewed focus on capitalism resonates with the current debate on causes and effects of inequality (for example, Piketty, Stiglitz), and should trigger more research. Thomas Mattig, Democratization

Author Information

Donatella della Porta is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Centre on Social Movement Studies at the European University Institute, Italy. In 2011, she was the recipient of the Mattei Dogan Prize for distinguished achievements in the field of political sociology.

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