Ruling by Other Means: State-Mobilized Movements (Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics)

ISBN 10: 110874561X / ISBN 13: 9781108745611

Published by Cambridge University Press, 2018

About this Item

Seller Inventory # V9781108745611

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Ruling by Other Means: State-Mobilized Movements (Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics)
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication Date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 110874561X
• ISBN 13: 9781108745611
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

What do states gain by sending citizens into the streets? Ruling by Other Means investigates this question through the lens of State-Mobilized Movements (SMMs), an umbrella concept that includes a range of (often covertly organized) collective actions intended to advance state interests. The SMMs research agenda departs significantly from that of classic social movement and contentious politics theory, focused on threats to the state from seemingly autonomous societal actors. Existing theories assume that the goal of popular protest is to voice societal grievances, represent oppressed groups, and challenge state authorities and other powerholders. The chapters in this volume show, however, that states themselves organize citizens (sometimes surreptitiously and even transnationally) to act collectively to advance state goals. Drawn from different historical periods and diverse geographical regions, these case studies expand and improve our understanding of social movements, civil society and state-society relations under authoritarian regimes.

About the Authors

Grzegorz Ekiert is Laurence A. Tisch Professor of Government at Harvard University.

Elizabeth J. Perry is Henry Rosovsky Professor of Government at Harvard University.

Yan Xiaojun is Associate Professor of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Hong Kong.