Social Movements, Political Protest and Civil Society, 7.5 credits
(Sociala rörelser, politiska protester och civilsamhälle, 7,5 högskolepoäng)
| Course code | 430005D |
|---|---|
| Discipline for doctoral studies | Sociology |
| Academic school | School of Social Sciences |
| Research area for doctoral studies | Politics, Economy and the Organization of Society |
| Grading scale | G |
| Education cycle | Doctoral studentship |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Valid from | Second half-year 2023 |
Validation
This course syllabus was validated by the Committee for Research and Doctoral Education at Södertörn University on 2023-04-18 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance
Entry requirements
Admitted to doctoral studentship
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, the doctoral student is able to:
Knowledge and understanding
- describe, explain, and reflect on central theories and concepts in the contemporary field of social movements studies
- explain and reflect on the role of social movements, political protests, and civil society in modern societies
Competence and skills
- in an independent, critical, and reflective manner, examine the assumptions and empirical underpinnings of the various theories and concepts
- independently analyse contemporary or historical social movements using central theories and concepts of the research field
- independently produce synthesising knowledge reviews based on literature in the research field
- independently formulate research problems and questions based on different theoretical perspectives in the research field of social movements
Judgement and approach
- independently and critically review and evaluate advanced research results in the research field of social movements
- independently and critically reflect on the merits and shortcomings of the central theories and concepts in the research field of social movements.
Course content, modules and examinations
The course provides an overview of central theories and concepts in the contemporary field of social movement studies, focusing on social movements’ role in society, how movements emerge and develop, who takes part in movements, how movements are organised, what methods movements use to influence politics and society, how the political context affects movements, and the role that emotions and collective identity play within movements. These perspectives are then applied to selected case studies. Great emphasis is put on critically examining the various perspectives and connecting them to empirical issues of current interest. The course highlights different perspectives on the role of social movements, civil society, and political protests in modern societies. It also discusses social movements in the Baltic Sea region and Eastern Europe.
Course design
The course is given as lectures and seminars.
Examination format
The course is examined through active participation in seminars and a written paper. Missed attendance at seminars can, after consultation with the examiner, be compensated for through written assignments.
The grading criteria are distributed prior to the start of a course or module.
If a student has a certificate from Södertörn University for compensatory support, the examiner has the right to decide on an adapted examination or alternative form of examination in accordance with Södertörn University's regulations.
Restrictions on accreditation
The course may not be accredited as part of a degree if the contents are partly or wholly the same as a course previously taken in Sweden or elsewhere.