Social Movements in Times of Austerity

This book, written by one of the foremost theorists of social movements, offers a new way to theorise the complex conjuncture of late neo-liberalism, a 'precariat' that includes the young and educated. and a legitimacy crisis of our political institutions and how this plays out in the squares of Europe, America and the Middle East. Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics Scholars of social movements have largely ignored capitalism in recent years, but Donatella della Porta shows how a crisis of neoliberal capitalism has provided the main motives and solidarities for recent protests against economic austerity and political corruption. Hers is a very important and original attempt to bridge political economy and contentious politics. Jeff Goodwin, New York University Among scholars of contemporary social movements, della Porta is unique in combining inquiry about resources for mobilization, political cleavages, and diverse experiences of neoliberal capitalism Highly recommended. Choice Della Porta's argument is complex, but coherent and convincing. The book helps shed light on the political-economic dimension of anti-austerity protests. The renewed focus on capitalism resonates with the current debate on causes and effects of inequality (for example, Piketty, Stiglitz), and should trigger more research. Thomas Mattig, Democratization