Graduate Program (& Advanced Certificate) Status
The course introduces participants into the study of contentious politics and social movements in various historical periods and distinct parts of the world. With Barrington Moore, we ask: “why people so often put up with being the victims of their societies and why at other times they become very angry and try with passion and forcefulness to do something about their situation.” (Injustice. The Social Bases of Obedience and Revolt. New York: M. E. Sharpe 1978: xiii.)
The first part of the course covers the building blocks of the conceptual apparatus of social movement research. It also offers historical examples, which help to better understand how power relations, political opportunities and risks, availability of allies, utilization of organizational resources, and ideas on the purpose of contentious claims shape peoples’ choices between obedience and revolt.
The second part focuses on the impact of long-term processes and factors – such as changing values and conflicts between generations and the passing of popular involvement in democracy - as well as new challenges - such as the global financial crisis – lead to the emergence of various social movements, and new relationships between social movements and political parties. The examples reflect the experience of nascent and mature democracies, as well as authoritarian regimes in various parts of the world. In all these cases we shall also investigate the consequences of social movements and social contention for the quality and prospects of democracy and democratization, respectively. The third part discusses contentious social responses to three major challenges of our time: the crisis of social reproduction, climate change, and COVID.
The course improves students’ analytic skills required for future careers, whether in academia or policy making, through facilitating:
a) in-class discussion and debate
b) critical thinking about the views expressed in the literature
c) and experience in making comparisons across concepts and cases.
The course improves students’ analytic skills required for future careers, whether in academia or policy making, through facilitating:
a) in-class discussion and debate
b) critical thinking about the views expressed in the literature
c) and experience in making comparisons across concepts and cases.
Requirements and grading
2
1. Presence and active participation in in-class discussions. (15% of final grade). Participation on-site only. Missing more than 2 classes will affect the grade - except in case of illness in which case absence must be justified with a medical document.
2. During the semester, each participant must send via e-mail 11 x 1 questions (with brief explanations, max. 150 words each) on the required readings (45% of final grade).
First half of the participants (in alphabetic order)
Questions on the required readings for the Monday classes of week 2-12. Questions must be sent to the whole class, not only the instructor. The questions must be sent by Sunday 16.00 pm latest. The questions will help structure the class discussions of the required readings. Late submission will be punished with 1 point deduction from the max 4 points earned with a question submitted on time.
Second half of the participants (in alphabetic order)
Questions on the required readings for the Wednesday classes of week 2-12. Questions must be sent to the whole class, not only the instructor. The questions must be sent by Tuesday 16.00 pm latest. The questions will help structure the class discussions of the required readings. Late submission will be punished with 1 point deduction from the max 4 points earned with each question submitted on time.
3. One term essay (maximum 2000 words, including everything, such as
references, footnotes, etc.) to be submitted in PDF form by April 7 noon, 2023 (40% of final grade).
Relying partly on the author’s own research, the essay ought to demonstrate the relevance (or irrelevance) of some of the covered concepts and themes for concrete analyses of a contentious event, situation, civil organization etc. of the author’s choice. Essay topics must be discussed with the instructor.