Global Social Movements

Globalisation has more than one face. Global cultural and economic forces, particularly through the dynamics of huge corporations, shape the picture from above, but a new global consciousness, through the activities of social movements, is emerging from below. While states remain important power containers, the development of these global social movements demonstrates that we are entering a post-national phase, with political action becoming more unconventional, open, participatory, direct and focused. The book provides a very broad and systematic analysis of social movements in a globalising world, integrating case material from a range of fields. Human rights, women’s, peace, labour, religious and green movements are all discussed.