Social movement scholars have become increasingly interested in the role of stories in contentious politics. Stories may facilitate the mobilization of activists and strengthen the resonance of their claims within public discourse and institutional politics. In her book “Becoming a Movement. Identity, Narrative and Memory in the European Global Justice Movement”, Priska Daphi explores the role of narratives in building collective identity – a vital element in activists' continued commitment. While often claimed important, the connection between narratives and movement identity remains understudied.
Drawing on a rich pool of original data, the book's analysis focusses on the Global Justice Movement (GJM), a movement known for its diversity of political perspectives. Based on a comparison of different national constellations of the GJM in Europe, Daphi demonstrates the centrality of activists' narratives in forming and maintaining movement identity and in making the GJM more enduring.
This book is also an Open Access publication and available for download on the publishers website Rowman & Littlefield International.