Contention and Democracy in Europe, 1650-2000

Cambridge Studies in Contentious Politics

by Charles Tilly

This analysis of the relationship between democratization and contentious politics builds upon the model set forth in Dynamics of Contention (Cambridge, 2001). Comparing the Low Countries, Iberia, France, the British Isles, the Balkans, Russia, and other European regions over three and a half turbulent centuries, the book demonstrates how similar recurrent causal mechanisms in different combinations, sequences, and initial conditions produced contrasting trajectories toward and away from democracy in different parts of the continent. Also available: Dynamics of Contention 0-521-80588-0 Hardback $60.00 C 0-521-01187-6 Paperback $22.00 D

Genres: Politics

Paperback

First published November 10, 2003

About the author

Charles Tilly was an American sociologist, political scientist, and historian renowned for his pioneering contributions to the study of social change, state formation, and contentious politics. A prolific scholar, Tilly authored over 600 articles and more than 50 books, shaping disciplines ranging from sociology and history to political science. His research was grounded in large-scale, comparative historical analysis, exemplified by his influential works Coercion, Capital, and European States, Durable Inequality, and Dynamics of Contention.
Tilly began his academic career after earning his doctorate in sociology from Harvard University, where he studied under noted figures like George C. Homans and Barrington Moore Jr. He taught at several major institutions, including the University of Michigan, The New School, and ultimately Columbia University, where he held the Joseph L. Buttenwieser Professorship of Social Science.
He developed a distinctive theoretical approach that rejected simplistic, static models of society, instead emphasizing dynamic processes and relational mechanisms. Tilly’s theories of state formation, particularly his provocative comparison of war-making and state-making to organized crime, remain central in political sociology. He also played a key role in the evolution of historical sociology and the relational sociology movement, especially through his collaborations and influence on the New York School.
A leading theorist of social movements, Tilly outlined how modern protest became structured around campaigns, repertoires of contention, and public displays of unity, worthiness, numbers, and commitment. His work with scholars like Sidney Tarrow and Doug McAdam further redefined the field by linking social movements to broader political processes.
Tilly received numerous honors, including membership in the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as multiple honorary doctorates. His legacy endures through awards bearing his name and through continued influence on generations of social scientists.

Reviews

[Dylan Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

tilly is always so easy to read and comprehend ily king

[Daniël Eykelenkamp · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bloody moderns. Very narrow conception of democracy, more like centralized state power. I learn more on democracy in one sentence from Aristotle and I would prefer that sentence to Tilly's oeuvre. Long live the classics.