This book consists of two separate but interrelated parts. In the first part the authors discusses how sociology examines collective violence, collective movements and riots from a theoretical perspective. In the second part, the same discussions are carried out using major riots from the USA and Turkey as case studies. From the USA; the Hay Market riot of 1886, the Watts riot of 1965, the Chicago riot of 1968, the Kent State riot of 1970, the Miami "McDuffy" riot of 1980, Los Angeles riot of 1992, the Seattle riot of 1999, and from Turkey; the Gazi District disturbances, the Sivas turmoil and the student protests against the Higher Education Council are examined as case studies in this book.