Social movements in global politics / David West.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction, what are social movements? -- The role of social movements in the making of modern politics -- Illusions of stability, the surprising emergence of new social movements -- Politics of culture and identity -- The politics of survival -- The new politics of exploitation -- Theories of social movements -- Theories of social movements -- Conclusion.

In the face of impending global crises and stubborn conflicts, a conventional view of politics risks leaving us confused and fatalistic, feeling powerless because we are unaware of all that can be achieved by political means. David West highlights the many ways in which national and global institutions depend on a broader context of extra-institutional action or what is, in effect, the formative dimension of politics.