POLI2422 · Political Science

Comparative Social Movements

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

This course examines the theoretical and empirical literature on social movements in order to understand their genesis, evolution, and successes and failures. We will start by exploring the international theoretical literature on social movements, in order to identify commonalities and differences in the experiences of social movements in a wide array of locations and historical moments. The course will then turn to a more detailed empirical study of a number of social movements, some international, some national, some regional, and some local, including labor movements, indigenous movements, women's movements, movements based on liberation theology, and national liberation/terrorist movements.