In this chapter, I define the notion of ‘urban movements’ according to a theoretical framework in which the contestations of global capitalism and liberal democracy are central concerns. These concerns help to distinguish types and cases of urban movements. I focus here on the actual and potential contributions made by different forms of collective action to improve our cities. However, all movements’ contradictions and limitations and less progressive or even conservative forms of urban activism deserve to be carefully investigated as well. Rather than a detailed examination of the academic literature (Andretta et al. 2015; Mayer and Boudreau 2012; Martí and Bonet 2008; Nicholls et al. 2013; Pickvance 1995; Pruijt 2007), I offer a general approach to the topic based on my past research and a few contemporary examples.