Social movements driven from below are at the centre of significant change throughout history. Yet the popular images of these movements (and the communities that drive them) are often shaped by the filters of industries such as politics, journalism and academia, with cultures that are incompatible with the grassroots nature of social movements. In today’s world, a serious theory and understanding of social change is more relevant than ever if we are to ask questions about how the crises and suffering of the world can be overcome, and what kinds of social agency are capable of doing so.