“Providing detailed analysis of several recent social movements in Germany, Roger Karapin explains the development of social movement campaigns, with particular concern for activists’ tactical and strategic choices. By comparing similarly situated movements, Karapin shows the extent to which activists make their own fates, given the very real constraints of political contingencies, including the quality of government leadership, the effectiveness of policing, and the support of party politicians. This book is critical reading for anyone interested in social movements and in German politics more broadly.” —David S. Meyer, University of California, Irvine “Karapin’s study significantly contributes to a new trajectory in social movement theorizing, going beyond the presumption that fixed grievances, resources, and opportunities shape the choice of protest strategies. Rather, actors engage in opportunity amplification and enhancement as they interact with allies and adversaries. Both the theoretical exposition in Karapin’s study and the comparative analysis of protest episodes in Germany make this book valuable reading for anyone interested in social movement theory.” —Herbert P. Kitschelt, Duke University “This book is critical reading for anyone interested in social movements and in German politics more broadly.” —David S. Meyer, University of California, Irvine “From left-wing nuclear energy protests to right-wing attacks on immigrants, from impoverished East to post-industrial West: Germany’s protest repertoire is rich and changing. In this wide-ranging study, Roger Karapin shows how the interactions among alliances, reforms, and policing produced large and influential movements—and sometimes success—in a country that has learned to civilize, and respond to, social protest. Inter alia, Karapin shows how unconventional and conventional politics mesh through the interactions among elites, activists, and institutions.” —Sidney Tarrow, Cornell University “Based on broad and detailed empirical evidence from nine cases of conflict that include both left and right movement activities, and comparing sets of contrasting cases, this study promotes an interactive political process approach. The author convincingly demonstrates that this approach can better explain the scope and form of protest than conventional theories drawing on socioeconomic factors and political institutions. This thought-provoking and well-researched book is a must for all students of social movements and political protest.” —Dieter Rucht, Social Science Center Berlin “Karapin’s book on protest movements in Germany provides the perfect synthesis of theory and evidence. . . . [The] arguments are supported by rich empirical evidence, an in-depth understanding of German protest politics in particular and German politics in general, and a sound knowledge of protest theory. . . . [This] book is essential reading for those interested in protest politics and social movements.” —H.A. Welsh Choice “Protest Politics in Germany provides the reader with a wide range of protest movements across a spread of geographical areas, presenting a convincing case in support of political interaction as a key element in the shaping of protest movements. . . . It is a well-written and clearly structured study, accessible to those who may be less familiar with either German political culture or social movement theories. As such, it provides important comparative material to students and scholars working in the field and is a valuable addition to the extant body of literature.” —Anna Saunders Journal of Contemporary European Studies “Perhaps it is not news that real democracy grows and deepens through protest participation, but it is a pleasure to see this argument supported in such rich and varied comparative detail here.” —Myra Marx Ferree Mobilization