Political Altruism? deals with participation in political activities aimed at defending the rights of other individuals and groups, such as asylum seekers, immigrant workers, populations of Third World countries, and people whose fundamental human rights are being harmed. This volume shows why political altruism is better seen as the result of social interactions rather than of a supposedly altruistic outburst. Contributors address the theoretical questions at the core of social movement theory, using country-specific studies including France, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, and the U.S., while also examining the growing internationalization of solidarity movements, their outcomes, and consequences.

Edited by Marco Giugni and Florence Passy - Contributions by Simone Baglioni; Ivana Eterovic; Olivier Fillieule; Marco Giugni; Ruud Koopmans; Christian Lahusen; Costanzo Ranci; Jackie Smith; Sarah A. Soule; Paul Statham and Charles Tilly

Chapter 1 Preface Part 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Political Altruism and the Solidarity Movement: An Introduction Chapter 4 Do Unto Others Part 5 National Dynamics Chapter 6 Dynamics of Commitment in the Sector Known as "Solidarity": Methodological Reflections Based on the Case of France Chapter 7 Altruism in Voluntary Oganizations: Mobilization and Transformation of Voluntary Action in Italy Chapter 8 Different Issues, Same Process: Solidarity and Ecology Movements in Switzerland Chapter 9 Better Off by Doing Good: Why Anti-Racism Must Mean Different Things to Different Groups Chapter 10 Political Opportunities for Altruism? The Role of State Policies in Influencing Claims-making by British Anti-Racist and Pro-Migrant Movements Part 11 Transnational Dynamics Chapter 12 Situational Effects on Political Altruism: The Student Divestment Movement in the United States Chapter 13 Mobilizing for International Solidarity: Mega-Events and Moral Crusades Chapter 14 From Altruism to a New Transnationalism? A Look at Transnational Social Movements Chapter 15 Solidarity Movement Organizations: Towards an Active Global Consciousness? Chapter 16 Conceptual Distinctions and Concluding Remarks Chapter 17 References