91142 - Political Effects Of Social Mobilization

Learning outcomes

The course aims at developing an encompassing knowledge of the outcomes that social mobilizations have at the level of politics and policies. At the end of the course, students will be able to: - critically discuss the main approaches related to the outcomes of social mobilizations at the level of politics and policies; - compare the political effects of social mobilitazions across different countries and different territorial levels; - evaluate specific cases of social mobilizations with regard to their intended and unintended political effects.

Course contents

***MODULE 1***

PART I - SETTING THE STAGE

WEEK 1
Day 1: Introduction to the course
Day 2: Some basic definitions of political campaigns and social mobilisations

WEEK 2
Day 1: The context of political campaigns and social mobilisations: political opportunities
Day 2: The context of political campaigns and social mobilisations: discursive opportunities

WEEK 3
Day 1: Resources and organisational structures of political campaigns and social mobilisations
Day 2: Political campaigns, social mobilisations and interpretative frameworks

PART II - SOCIAL MOVEMENT OUTCOMES IN THE REALM OF POLITICS

WEEK 4
Day 1: Introduction to social movement outcomes
Day 2: Social movements outcomes in the polity

WEEK 5
Day 1: Social movement outcomes concerning politics
Day 2: Social movement outcomes and policy

***MODULE TWO***

PART 3 - DILEMMAS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS’ OUTCOMES

WEEK 6
Day 1: The institutionalization of social movements: A loss or a gain for social movement organizations and activists?
Day 2: The dilemma of funding and its impact on social movements' outcomes

WEEK 7
Day 1: Organizing within social movements
Day 2: The role of digital media in shaping social movements' outcomes

WEEK 8
Day 1: Social movement outcomes in hybrid and authoritarian regimes
Day 2: Social movements and political violence: The dilemma of the radical flank effect

WEEK 9
Day 1: Dilemmas of social movement escalation
Day 2: Dilemmas of transnational social movements

WEEK 10
Day 1: Social movement outcomes beyond the realm of politics
Day 2: Wrap-up of the course

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students are required to read and study all the compulsory readings listed and made available in due time on the Virtuale platform.

Non-attending students are required to read and study all the compulsory readings listed in the Course Contents section and the following books:

• Donatella della Porta and Mario Diani (2020) Social Movements: An Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell
• David Meyer (2021) How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter, Polity Press

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures, in-depth analysis of specific case studies, and interactive sessions with the students.

Assessment methods

Attending students will be evaluated through two main tools:

• A final paper of 4,000-5,000 words about one of the topics covered during the course, to be agreed in advance with the instructor (50%)
• An oral exam that will cover the lectures, the contents of compulsory readings and the students' final papers (50%)

Attending students will be those students who will attend at least 75% of classes. Those students who will attend less classes will be considered non-attending students.

Please note that precise instructions on the final paper and the oral exam will be presented by the instructor during the first day of class and will be uploaded in the Virtual Platform in due time.

Non-attending students will be evaluated through two main tools:

• A final paper of 6,000-7,000 words about one of the topics covered during the course, to be agreed in advance with the instructor (50%)
• An oral exam that will cover the contents of compulsory readings and the students' final papers (50%)

Please note that compulsory readings for non-attending students are all the compulsory readings listed and made availbale on the Virtuale platform and the following books:

• Donatella della Porta and Mario Diani (2020) Social Movements: An Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell
• David Meyer (2021) How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter, Polity Press

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations, multi-media materials, and practical exercises will support teaching and learning activities.

Office hours

See the website of Alice Mattoni

See the website of Fernanda Odilla Vasconcellos De Figueiredo