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Social Movements: Theory, History, and Contemporary Activism

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    Social Movements: Theory, History, and Contemporary Activism was written to provide students with an accessible, engaging, and affordable introduction to the study of collective action and social change. Social movements have shaped nearly every aspect of American society—from expanding civil rights and voting rights to advancing gender equality, labor protections, environmental justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. Understanding how these movements emerge, grow, adapt, and influence society is essential for understanding politics, history, and democracy itself.

    This textbook introduces students to the major sociological theories used to explain social movements before exploring a range of historical and contemporary movements in the United States. Throughout the text, students are encouraged to think critically about the relationship between individuals, institutions, culture, and power while examining how ordinary people have organized to create extraordinary social change.

    Thumbnail: This Group Engages in Disruptive Climate Protests (CC BY-SA 4.0; Notown via Wikimedia Commons)

    This page titled Social Movements: Theory, History, and Contemporary Activism was last modified on Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:58:23 GMT and is shared under a multiple 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by James Nguyen.