Comparative Sociology, Global History, and Contentious Politics: A Special Issue Celebrating the Work of Charles Tilly: Charles Tilly as a Social and Political Theorist: The Enduring Power of Tilly’s Theoretical Frameworks

Charles Tilly is a towering figure in the social sciences. His work has influenced generations of scholars across disciplines but younger generations may be less familiar with his work; this is a lost opportunity given the usefulness of his work. Much of Tilly’s work on areas outside of state formation and social movements remains underutilized. Many research agendas can be strengthened by building on his work and testing his many fascinating theories and hypotheses. This paper discusses examples of the application of some of Tilly’s works to contexts in Asia and the Middle East and North Africa, theory building, and contemporary issues by some scholars who were part of Tilly’s last generation of students.