This is an overview of the development of social movements based on current research on movement mobilization and participation. It is an ideal guide to the field for upper-level students studying the development of movement participation in social psychology, sociology or politics. The discussion is illuminated by extensive international examples ranging from women's movements, to right wing extremist groups, to social movements in South Africa. The Social Psychology of Protest addresses the classic problems that have been studied in the field: construction and reconstruction of collective beliefs, the transformation of discontent into collective action, and sustained participation and disengagement. Although the emphasis is on the individual's role, the book also discusses how the dynamics of movement participation are influenced by movement characteristics, multiorganizational fields and political opportunities.
