DESCPTION

Social movements are important arenas for social change. By joining together, individuals can work to transform social values or norms, establish collective identities, change laws, and prevent businesses from running as usual. Students explore social movements by examining how they develop, are sustained, and (sometimes) decline. They begin by examining theories of social movements and look at the ways in which our understanding of social movements has changed over time. Students also examine mobilization to social movements and reflect on the reasons why some people come to participate while others do not as well as the tactics, goals and successes of various social movements. The primary focus is on theories of social movements and collective action through an examination of contemporary movements. Students learn the analytic tools necessary to examine and critically assess the role of social movements in our society. They become participant observers at a protest event and engage in original research by interviewing activists or engaging in frame analysis, ultimately applying the theoretical concepts they learn in class to their data.