SOCI 29905 - Social Movements

Course Credit: 1
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Social Movements are collective, organized, and sustained efforts to promote social change by people who perceive injustice but often lack routine access to power. Why are social movements collective–i.e., why do people take action together rather than individually? How are they organized, and what are the consequences of different kinds of organization? Who are these people? How do they come to think of themselves as sharing a common and valued identity? What determines social movement success or failure–the opportunities available, or the strategies used? How does the media influence movements? We explore these questions and relevant theories through several case studies: the civil rights movement, contemporary organized racism (e.g., hate movements), global/transnational movements, and online activism. Prerequisite(s): SOCI-10000 or permission of instructor [HSS, SJ, W]