Introductory description

N/A

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

An Introduction to Social Movements and Political Action
New Social Movements Theory
Resource Mobilisation Theory
The Arab Spring: Resistance to Neoliberalism and Intersectional Critiques
Occupy: Resistance to Neoliberalism and Intersectional Critiques
Reading Week
Black Lives Matter: Resistance in the Neoliberal Racial Colony I
Water Protectors at Standing Rock: Resistance to the Neoliberal Racial Colony II
Decolonial Solidarity Activism in Palestine-Israel
Far Right Movements

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• understand the history and contemporary forms of social movements
• display an awareness of contrasting views about social movements
• show an understanding of the role of social movements in contemporary societies

Indicative reading list

della Porta, D. and Diani, M. (2006) Social Movements: An Introduction 2nd Edition Malden: Blackwell
Goodwin, J. and Jasper, J.M. (eds) (2003) The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts Oxford: Blackwell
McAdam, D. and Snow, D.A. (eds) (2010) Readings on Social Movements: Origins, Dynamics, and Outcomes 2nd Edition New York: Oxford University Press
Ruggiero, V. and Mcntagna, N. (eds) (2008) Social Movements: A Reader London: Routledge Snow, D.A., Soule, S.A. and Kriesi. H. (eds) (2007) The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements Oxford: Blackwell
Tilly, C. (2004) Social Movements, 1768-2004 Boulder, CO: Paradigm

Subject specific skills

• a systematic understanding of key aspects of social movement studies, including acquisition of coherent and detailed knowledge, at least some of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of defined aspects of a discipline

• an ability to deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within the sociological study of social movements.

• conceptual understanding that enables the student:

• to devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and
  techniques, some of which are at the forefront of a discipline
• to describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or
  equivalent advanced scholarship, in the discipline

• an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge

• the ability to manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to the discipline).

Transferable skills

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects

critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem

communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

And holders will have:
the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring:

• the exercise of initiative and personal responsibility
• decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts
• the learning ability needed to undertake appropriate further training of a
  professional or equivalent nature.