Collective action asks a fundamental question in social science: How do sets of actors

choose courses of action and work together to achieve desired outcomes, often in

opposition to other coalitions? Psychological and economic rationality explanations are

incomplete in emphasizing the mental decision processes of individuals. Collective

action must be understood at the level analysis of interpersonal and interorganizational

relations. Social network theories and methods provide optimal frameworks for

explaining collective action in a variety of settings. This book reviews theories and

empirical research on collective action in several substantive areas, demonstrates how

agent-based models can analyze collective action networks (pandemics, riots, social

movements, insurrections, insurgencies), and concludes with speculations about future

research directions.