Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the relationship between social movements and democracy in social and political thought. More recently, "resource mobilization" theorists have interpreted social movements as the rational result of individuals coming together to pursue collective interests. Many sociologists have simply assumed that social movements end at state boundaries, treating them as discrete national phenomena. The global dimension of democracy and movement activity has been receiving increasing attention in a small but growing body of work by international relations (IR) theorists, political theorists, and sociologists concerned about the impact of globalization. This book examines the recent attempts to extend theories of democracy and social movements in the context of arguments about globalization. It turns to feminist arguments, looking at explanations of the marginalization of women in democracy and then at strategies to reconstruct democratic theory and incorporate women into the polity.