American Resistance

American Resistance is an important book, not only as a portrait of our moment but also as a challenge to traditional understandings of protest politics. Dana R. Fisher shows how wrong it is-especially in the Trump era-to draw sharp lines between protest and electoral action. She details what drove millions to come out in revolt against Trump, explains who they are, and demonstrates how the early marches translated into the unprecedented political engagement of 2018. There are lessons here for 2020 and beyond. -- E. J. Dionne, Jr., coauthor of <i>One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported</i> American Resistance charts the course of the anti-Trump surge in activism and organizing, shedding light on crucial realities and busting myths along the way. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the people-powered movements that are changing American politics in the Trump era. -- Leah Greenberg, co-executive director, Indivisible After the shocking 2016 election, millions of Americans took to streets and meeting halls to fight President Trump's agenda and revitalize U.S. democracy. Using interviews with the leaders of national political groups and surveys of thousands of participants in D.C. protest marches, Dana R. Fisher offers a window into their passionate, loosely coordinated efforts to boost 2018 Democratic fortunes in Congress and the states while proclaiming a very un-Trumpian vision for the country's future. -- Theda Skocpol, director, Scholars Strategy Network, and Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology, Harvard University Exactly what happened between the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the 2018 takeover of the House of Representatives by Democrats, and how did it happen? While conventional wisdom lazily suggested a pendulum swing, Dana R. Fisher, using survey data of participants in the two-year-long Resistance, gets under the skin of this movement to help us understand how it initially came together and then was able to sustain itself through the 2018 elections. More than just a fascinating piece of sociological research, Fisher's study will be a valuable resource for movement activists, helping them better understand the inner dynamics of their organizing work. -- James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute and board member of Our Revolution Terrific. -- Micah L. Sifry * The New Republic * The comprehensive guide to the Resistance: the backlash to the 2016 elections, the Blue Wave of 2018, and the enthusiasm leading to 2020. -- Ian Silverii * Colorado Politics * The book accomplishes the challenging task of informing a general audience with an interest in social movements while bringing original data and a wealth of political science and sociological research to bear on the study of "the Resistance." * Perspectives on Politics * American Resistance will appeal to social movement scholars as well as anyone interested in understanding contemporary social change efforts. * Mobilization * Fisher's work is unapologetically descriptive, drawing from a unique series of surveys of protestors in Washington, DC in 2017 and 2018...The data that resulted from these surveys are the most important contribution of Fisher's book, as measuring the attitudes of protestors is a fraught business. * Contemporary Sociology * Recommended. * Choice * For anyone concerned about the state of civic engagement, Fisher presents a treasure trove of new evidence, some of it interesting and encouraging * Social Forces * Interestingly, although American Resistance focuses on protests and protesters, the book may be most effective at illustrating how a lot of people are working hard to change society even when-and perhaps especially when-they are not visible in the streets. * American Journal of Sociology *

Dana R. Fisher is professor of sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. Her books include Activism, Inc.: How the Outsourcing of Grassroots Campaigns Is Strangling Progressive Politics in America (2006).

Preface Acknowledgments 1. How Did We Get Here? 2. Resistance in the Streets 3. Organizing the Resistance in the Districts 4. Resistance in the Districts 5. Looking Back While Marching Forward Methodological Appendix Notes Index