ABSTRACT
Societies and social movements rarely remain within national borders, even if, nevertheless, the popular paradigm is to engage in “methodological nationalism” when we study events and systems only occurring within the contemporary borders of a political unit. The idea of societies mapping perfectly into current day political borders is a limiting and detrimental assumption that obstructs the practice of social science. Historically and today, movements are often transnational in character and impact. Their claims, goals, and tactics are shared across geographic and political borders. This chapter looks at the international roots of Occupy Wall Street and examines how this movement grew and spread beyond New York.
