Conclusion: The Changing Face of Social Movements and Emerging Patterns Across the Non-Western World

This chapter provides a summary of the common arguments and issues discussed in this volume by comparing the multiple cases throughout the chapters. It highlights the main findings of the authors regarding the similar characteristics of new social movements and highlights the emerging patterns across the non-Western world. This chapter also questions the potentially transformative role of participatory democracy both as a political demand, and as a mass mobilization strategy. Finally, it concludes with some observations on the future of contentious politics.