Why Movements Matter

The first systematic examination of the West German anti-missile movement of the 1980s, this book explores an unparalleled citizen mobilization that played a crucial role in bringing superpower rivalry to a close. The product of extensive primary research, this book advances social movement theory and the political sociology of peace movements, deepens our understanding of the interactions of political parties and political movements, examines the links between public opinion and organized dissent, and assesses the impact and legacy of a movement that shook the halls of power from Washington to Moscow.