Carty (sociology, Niagara U.) examines instances in which marginalized and oppressed groups were able to mobilize and gain support from others by circulating information across alternative media and new digital technologies. She looks at movement dynamics, develops a conceptual foundation and theoretical framework for analyzing social moments that go beyond previous analysis, and shows how the new technologies are affecting political and civil processes and institutions. Beginning with an overview of social movement theories and a proposed synthesis, she goes on to discuss the anti-Nike campaign as an example of students against sweatshops and for corporate social responsibility; contention politics, cyberactivism, and electoral reform in the reemergence of the peace movement after 9-11; MoveOn.org and the digital revolution; and whether digital technologies represented grassroots empowerment or elite control of youth activism during the 2008 US presidential election. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)