Social Justice Movements

The second edition of Social Justice Movements is a reader about democracy in action. The anthology examines past movements for social, political, and economic justice and their impact on existing political and social structures. Each carefully curated reading speaks to historical events and movements that transcended human consciousness and moved society in a global directional shift.

Organized thematically, the first of the five main units focuses on historical narratives. The second addresses traditional protest movements, and the third is devoted to the impact of individual citizens on revolutionary social change. Units IV and V, new to the second edition, focus on internal political factions and contemporary social movements for justice and equality. The readings in these sections examine the social uprisings of 2020 during the height of the pandemic and the continued presence of police brutality in America-including the assault on the United States Capital on January 6, 2021-and the evolving challenges and opportunities under the Biden administration.

Social Justice Movements enhances discussions on the difference between a theoretical framework of governance and the reality experienced by those on the periphery of society. The anthology is ideal for courses in Political Science, Political History, or Social Justice.