Teamsters and Turtles?: U.S. Progressive Political Movements in the 21st Century

After decades of single issue movements and identity politics on the U.S. left, the series of large demonstrations beginning in 1999 in Seattle has led many to wonder if activist politics can now come together around a common theme of global justice. This book pursues the prospects for progressive political movements in the 21st century with case studies of ten representative movements, including the anti globalization forces, environmental interest groups, and new takes on the peace movement.

Promoting progressive movements for political, economic, and social changes, this book pursues the prospects for progressive political movements in the 21st century. (Public Administration Review)

John Berg has brought together an impressive array of activist scholars with an eye toward nurturing the blend of theory and practice necessary to promote progressive movements for political, economic and social change. The selections in this volume have the courage to value democracy. Taken together they offer valuable insight into the possibilities of rendering centripetal the centrifugal forces that often threaten to scatter political movements whose collective energy and vision are vital to the future of democracy itself. (William F. Grover, Saint Michael's College)

This is a superb volume. John Berg has assembled an impressive cast of authors to produce an exhaustive and timely survey of progressive political movements in the United States today. This will be essential reading for all students of social and political protest and for all those committed to progressive democratic politics. (Colin Hay, University of Birmingham, U.K.)

The chapters invoke a broad range of theoretical perspectives and employ a variety of forms of analysis. Recommended. (CHOICE)

Wondering what the so-called progressive groups have been doing in recent years? In this volume edited by John Berg, nine such organizations are nicely profiled by a variety of scholar-activists. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the world of 'leftist' activists and the causes they advocate in the new millennium. It is a must-read for all those who follow or study the role of groups in American politics. (Ronald J. Hrebenar, University of Utah, author of Interest Group Politics in America University of Utah, author of Interest Group Politics in Amer)

The case studies are informative, engaging, and follow a similar format, which is useful in making comparisons. This collection could work well in a social movements class. (Contemporary Sociology)

Ambitious. (Logos: A Journal of Modern Society & Culture)

A careful and informative volume on selected movements of the left, with an eye to updating the substantial work done on the movements of the 1960s and 70s. The essays in this collection are readable and accurate. (Political Studies Review)

Teamsters and Turtles is a useful, smooth-reading addition to any scholar's desk, and to any classroom text list. If radical (or at least progressive) practicality is a guide, this book is effective and appealing. . . . a lasting contribution that is unlikely to go out of print or become outdated in the near future. (Ken Collier, University of Regina)