Drawing on theoretical insights from Third World women's activism, Political Theory and Feminist Social Criticism develops democratic theory as a critical theory relevant to dealing with real world inequalities. Brooke Ackerly examines the methods by which real world feminist activists have criticized society, and argues that their activities show how feminist theory can move beyond its theoretical impasse toward articulating social criticism with critical teeth. Her book will be of interest to political and social theorists, and to students and scholars of women's studies, feminism, and human rights.