Compared to other sociopolitical
institutions, social movements possess and deploy forms of power which, though
less readily visible, are no less important or consequential. Placing their
study within a broader context of contentious politics (i.e. politics
undertaken outside normal institutional channels with the aim of bringing about
political change), this course introduces students to the basic concepts and
theories of collective action, whilst also discussing concrete cases. Why and
when people accustomed to their categorical roles in society rise up to engage
in the uncertainties of collective action? If we consider material deprivation
to be a necessary condition for such action to be undertaken, is it also
sufficient? And, if not, what other factors do we need to take into account for
a satisfactory explication? Considering protest to be a standard (and normal) aspect
of social and political life, emphasis is also placed on the ways in which it materializes
(the hows of protest): the mechanisms
through which collective-action tendencies and –often latent- predispositions
are transformed into tangible realities. As is also the case with the booming field
of Contentious Politics, the class is
organized around a number of key themes:- political opportunities and threats (environmental conditions facilitating or obstructing the emergence of movements);
- contentious repertoires (forms of collective action movement-actors employ in order to further their goals);
- framing processes (political discourse and symbolism seeking to effect cognitive liberation and communicate the movements’ message to broader audiences);
- organizational structures movements employ to maximize their effectiveness;
- contentious diffusion and cycles of protest;
- social-movement outcomes.
Besides taking the final exam, students
are expected to actively participate in class and produce a 5-6.000-long
research paper.
Basic Bibliography (with call numbers at the Panteion Library -where available)
- Buechler, S. E. (2000) Social Movements in Advanced Capitalism: The Political Economy and Cultural Construction of Social Activism, New York: Oxford University Press. [303.484 BUE Αντ.: 1]
- DellaPorta, D., M. Diani (2006) Social Movements: An Introduction, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
- Goodwin, J., J. M. Jasper (επιμ.) (2003) The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. [303.484 SOC Αντ.: 1]
- McAdam, D. (1999) Political Process and the Development ofBlack Insurgency, 1930-1970, Chicago/London: The University of Chicago Press.
- McAdam, D., J. D. McCarthy, M. Zald (επιμ.) (1996) Comparative Perspectives on Social Movements: Political Opportunities, Mobilizing Structures, and Cultural Framings, Cambridge/ New York: Cambridge University Press [303.484 COM Αντ.: 1].
- McAdam, D., S. Tarrow, C. Tilly (2001) Dynamics of Contention, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Meyer, D. S., N. Whittier, B. Robnett (2002) (επιμ.) Social Movements: Identity, Culture, and the State, Oxford: Oxford University Press.[303. 484 SOC Αντ.: 1]
- Piven, F. F., E. A. Cloward (1979) Poor People's Movements. Why they Succeed, How they Fail, New York: Vintage Books [322.20973 PIV]
- Snow, D. A., S. Soule, H. Kriesi (επιμ.) (2004) The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. [303.484 SOC Αντ.: 1]
- Tarrow, S. (1998) Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics, 2η έκδοση, Cambridge/Νέα Υόρκη: Cambridge University Press. [303.48409 TAR Αντ.: 1]
- Tilly, C. (2004) Social Movements, 1768-2004, Boulder/ London: Paradigm Publishers.
- Tilly, C., S. Tarrow (2007) Contentious Politics, Boulder/London: Paradigm
Press.
