SOC30770

Activism and collective action for the purpose of social change are a fascinating part of the dynamism of our societies. Different groups enact various tactics and strategies to push for what they deem positive social change. You probably heard of – and perhaps engaged with – groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future, the Black Lives Movement. Perhaps you have taken part in Pride parades, or went to protests demanding action from the government. But have you thought about what you were doing in sociological terms? This module will introduce you to concepts and theories that social scientists have produced to understand how collective action shapes societies, how actors get involved in social movements, and how they tackle the challenges that they encounter. We will study social movements by means of case studies, and engage with actors involved in such movements locally or globally.

One important component of the module will be group work. You will select a topic of activism from a list provided at the beginning of the module, and together with other students will explore local, national, or transnational forms of activism related to the topic as a case study. Based on this research, groups will produce and present a zine as part of the assignment.