"Grodsky's book is a long-awaited study explaining the path of social movement organizations after regime change."—Paulina Pospieszna, Journal of Peace Research "Social Movements and the New State has much to offer scholars and policy practitioners seeking to better understand the roles and limitations of social movements in this process. The book speaks most directly to academicians, especially those specializing in social movements and political regimes. However, Grodsky's work should also appeal to a wider audience, especially because it illuminates issues such as the role of social movements and civil society in supporting transparent governance and the proper limits of that role when it comes to policy access and influence."—Samuel Handlin, Public Integrity "Grodsky offers an excellent analysis of the fate of social movements when they gain the reigns of governmental power. In examining three successful social movements (Poland, South Africa, and Georgia), the author claims individual actors and their personal relationships are the critical factors . . . Recommended."—S. Majstorovic, CHOICE "As the events of Arab Spring remind us, popular movements have emerged as a major source of regime change. But there exists little systematic scholarship on the relationship between these movements and the governments they help spawn. In this timely book, Brian K. Grodsky explores exceptionally rich comparative case studies of the evolving and complicated relationship between popular struggles and 'movement states' in Poland, South Africa, and Georgia. His work should find a large and enthusiastic audience in comparative politics and social movement studies."—Doug McAdam, Stanford University "A carefully researched and theoretically innovative contribution to comparative politics."—Laura Henry, Bowdoin College "Grodsky's rich comparison of Poland, South Africa and Georgia helps those who wish to deepen democracy and not only end authoritarianism. With a common tale of civil society enabling democratic breakthrough followed by movements' alienation from erstwhile comrades in state power, Grodsky may not tell us what is to be done, but does tell us what happened."—Michael D. Kennedy, Professor of Sociology and International Studies, Brown University