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Social Movements 1768-2012
The updated and expanded third edition of Tilly’s widely acclaimed book brings this analytical history of social movements fully up to date. Tilly and Wood cover such recent topics as the economic crisis and related protest actions around the globe while maintaining their attention to perennially important issues such as immigrants’ rights, new media technologies, and the role of bloggers and Facebook in social movement activities. With new coverage of colonialism and its impact on movement formation as well as coverage and analysis of the 2011 Arab Spring, this new edition of Social Movements adds more historical depth while capturing a new cycle of contention today.
- GenresSocial Movements
284 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Charles Tilly
105 books132 followersCharles Tilly was an American sociologist, political scientist, and historian renowned for his pioneering contributions to the study of social change, state formation, and contentious politics. A prolific scholar, Tilly authored over 600 articles and more than 50 books, shaping disciplines ranging from sociology and history to political science. His research was grounded in large-scale, comparative historical analysis, exemplified by his influential works Coercion, Capital, and European States, Durable Inequality, and Dynamics of Contention.
Tilly began his academic career after earning his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University, where he studied under noted figures like George C. Homans and Barrington Moore Jr. He taught at several major institutions, including the University of Michigan, The New School, and ultimately Columbia University, where he held the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professorship of Social Science.
He developed a distinctive theoretical approach that rejected simplistic, static models of society, instead emphasizing dynamic processes and relational mechanisms. Tilly’s theories of state formation, particularly his provocative comparison of war-making and state-making to organized crime, remain central in political sociology. He also played a key role in the evolution of historical sociology and the relational sociology movement, especially through his collaborations and influence on the New York School.
A leading theorist of social movements, Tilly outlined how modern protest became structured around campaigns, repertoires of contention, and public displays of unity, worthiness, numbers, and commitment. His work with scholars like Sidney Tarrow and Doug McAdam further redefined the field by linking social movements to broader political processes.
Tilly received numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as multiple honorary doctorates. His legacy endures through awards bearing his name and through continued influence on generations of social scientists.
Tilly began his academic career after earning his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University, where he studied under noted figures like George C. Homans and Barrington Moore Jr. He taught at several major institutions, including the University of Michigan, The New School, and ultimately Columbia University, where he held the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professorship of Social Science.
He developed a distinctive theoretical approach that rejected simplistic, static models of society, instead emphasizing dynamic processes and relational mechanisms. Tilly’s theories of state formation, particularly his provocative comparison of war-making and state-making to organized crime, remain central in political sociology. He also played a key role in the evolution of historical sociology and the relational sociology movement, especially through his collaborations and influence on the New York School.
A leading theorist of social movements, Tilly outlined how modern protest became structured around campaigns, repertoires of contention, and public displays of unity, worthiness, numbers, and commitment. His work with scholars like Sidney Tarrow and Doug McAdam further redefined the field by linking social movements to broader political processes.
Tilly received numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as multiple honorary doctorates. His legacy endures through awards bearing his name and through continued influence on generations of social scientists.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 16, 2016
I read this book (actually, several chapter, not the whole book) for the Social Movements course during the Summer School in Thailand. It was an obligatory reading, and I cannot say I really enjoyed it.
The authors of the book refer to social movements as a new political phenomenon which appeared only in late 18th century. They explain why they do not consider any previous uprisings and revolutions as SM.
From chapter to chapter, they give an overview of SW of different nature and from many parts of the world and explain how SM relate to democratization.
The authors of the book refer to social movements as a new political phenomenon which appeared only in late 18th century. They explain why they do not consider any previous uprisings and revolutions as SM.
From chapter to chapter, they give an overview of SW of different nature and from many parts of the world and explain how SM relate to democratization.
October 30, 2025
Charles Tilly, the author, cites himself constantly throughout this text. That is because he is influential, and he is so for a reason. I have found his ideas of social movements and repertoires and WUNC (worthiness, unity, numbers, and commitment) very useful to work with.
Tilly argues that democratization promotes social movements. In most cases, that is true, but I notice that Tilly does not really mention the social movements that led to the French Revolution. That is because in the French Revolution, social movements spurred on democratization. I like finding the one hole in an otherwise solid argument.
I do like this book though. What Tilly says about social movements mostly rings true for me. What he says about social media less so, but that’s because he’s old enough to be bewildered by it. I think social media and the Internet are not just new communications media, but public spaces for politics themselves. I think Tilly predicted the future of social movements well. After all, the first social movement mentioned in the chapter about the future is an anti-illegal immigrant movement.
Tilly argues that democratization promotes social movements. In most cases, that is true, but I notice that Tilly does not really mention the social movements that led to the French Revolution. That is because in the French Revolution, social movements spurred on democratization. I like finding the one hole in an otherwise solid argument.
I do like this book though. What Tilly says about social movements mostly rings true for me. What he says about social media less so, but that’s because he’s old enough to be bewildered by it. I think social media and the Internet are not just new communications media, but public spaces for politics themselves. I think Tilly predicted the future of social movements well. After all, the first social movement mentioned in the chapter about the future is an anti-illegal immigrant movement.
June 11, 2021
DRY required reading for my class on social movements. Some interesting concepts and perspectives but the idea that SMM originated exclusively in Western Europe & the US does not sit right with me. Skimmed and shelved as soon as I could.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews