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Skillfully drawing on and synthesizing an impressive range of theoretical perspectives, Benjamin Abrams has fashioned a highly original theory of spontaneous mass mobilization. As if that weren't enough, he goes on to make a compelling, empirically informed case for the application of his Affinity Convergence Theory to four iconic mass movements, ranging from the French Revolution to the George Floyd Protests of 2020. Anyone interested in the dynamics of spontaneous mass action will want to read this book. -- Doug McAdam, Ray Lyman Wilbur Professor of Sociology, Stanford University Drawing on four diverse cycles of contention, Abram's book excavates the long-dormant spontaneity approach to social mobilization while employing mainstream social movement approaches whose proponents claim to have succeeded it. He shows how much of the process of mobilization can be explained as the product of the combination of affinities and convergence on the part of unorganized groups - the masses in his title - while their failures can be explained as their inability to create viable and robust organizations around their affinities. His book should be read by social movement speciaists and by general readers concerned with the current waves of mass mobilization alike. -- Sidney Tarrow, author of Power in Movement

Skillfully drawing on and synthesizing an impressive range of theoretical perspectives, Benjamin Abrams has fashioned a highly original theory of spontaneous mass mobilization. As if that weren't enough, he goes on to make a compelling, empirically informed case for the application of his Affinity Convergence Theory to four iconic mass movements, ranging from the French Revolution to the George Floyd Protests of 2020. Anyone interested in the dynamics of spontaneous mass action will want to read this book. -- Doug McAdam, Ray Lyman Wilbur Professor of Sociology, Stanford University Drawing on four diverse cycles of contention. . . . Abrams shows how much of the process of mobilization can be explained as the product of the combination of affinities and convergence on the part of unorganized groups-the masses in his title-while their failures can be explained as their inability to create viable and robust structures around their affinities. His book should be read by social movement specialists and by general readers concerned with the current waves of mass mobilization alike. -- Sidney Tarrow, author of Power in Movement

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Benjamin Abrams is a lecturer in sociology at University College London.

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