SOSGEO4801 – Social movements

Course content

Social movements play an important role in social, cultural, and political change and there is a rich tradition for social movement studies within social science. In this course, we take a closer look at what social movements are, how they develop, what they do and how they make a difference. We will both study key concepts and theories of social movements, and examine the development and strategies of key contemporary movements.

How do actors mobilize around diverse identities and grievances? Do we see an increase in intersectional frames and mobilization efforts in feminist, nationalist and anti-racist movements? How have new movements and identities emerged as a result of greater global connectedness and increased attention to global inequalities and decolonization? And, how do local and national mobilizations relate to transnational movements and political protest?

These, and similar questions, are central in this course, which presents sociological and geographical theories about social movements and empirical research on collective action and protest. The first part of the course examines the development of social movement theory over time and different perspectives within the field. This provides a basis for empirical analyses of specific movements in the second part of the course. Here, we will especially focus on mobilizations around post-colonialism, anti-racism, climate change, right-wing populism, anti-autocratization and queer activism. Although most of the research texts in the second part of the course will deal with these selected movements, the course is also relevant and open to students who want to focus on other issues, identities and forms of collective action. Both organized and more spontaneous forms of cultural and political contention and communication via different media will be covered in the course.

Students will learn about democratization and political protest in a sociological and geographical perspective, based in the international social movement and mobilization literature.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

• Get insight in central concepts in social movement studies, such as grievances, resources, opportunity structures, emotions, identity dilemmas, frames and spatialities.

• Get insight in different concrete social movements related to postcolonialism, racism, climate change, right-wing populism, autocratization and queer activism

• Get some insight in transnational social movements and in how social media platforms are essential for movements themselves and for the academic study of movements.

• Understand how the concepts of identity dilemma, emotions and intersectionality relate to social movements, and be able to describe concrete examples of this

• Get insight in how scholars use different methodological designs in movement studies.

• Get insight in how activists themselves see the main objectives and strategies in movements.

Skills

• Critically read and discuss academic studies of how different statuses and identities relate to collective action and political contention before and today.

• Use different theories related to mobilization, post-colonialism and group difference when discussing concrete empirical cases of movements and their members.

• Develop general skills and competencies for oral and written presentation of knowledge related to social movements in theory and practice.

Competences

• Capacity to understand complex issues related to collective action and politics from multiple perspectives.

• Improved capacity for reflection and awareness of movement members and their political goals and aspirations and how these affect all members of society more broadly.

• Understanding of how to engage with migration and diversity related politics from a knowledge-based perspective.

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

This course is not available for single course students.

This course is a part of the Master`s programme in Sociology and Human Geography.

The course is also open for master`s students on Lektorprogrammet and Organisasjon, ledelse og arbeid at UiO.

Students enrolled in other Master`s Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course as guest student if this is cleared by their own study programme. Admission as a guest student will vary from semester to semester, as guest students will be allotted any vacant seats on the course.

Teaching

• The course will be organized as 12 seminars including lectures and discussions
• The lectures are given in English

Compulsory activity

• You must complete a mandatory seminar presentation in order to take the exam.

In the event of illness or other valid reasons, you can apply for a valid absence or postponement of compulsory activity.

Apply for valid absence from or need for postponement of compulsory activity

Examination

• School exam (6 hours) (The examination form has changed)

You must complete a mandatory seminar presentation in order to take the exam.

• Previous exams and examiner guidelines

Examination support material

Usage of a dictionary during the examination is allowed, subject to prior inspection by SV-info. See guidelines for further details.

Language of examination

You may write your examination paper in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.

More about examinations at UiO

• Use of sources and citations
• Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
• Withdrawal from an exam
• Illness at exams / postponed exams
• Explanation of grades and appeals
• Resitting an exam
• Cheating/attempted cheating

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.