91142 - Political Effects Of Social Mobilization

Learning outcomes

The course aims at developing an encompassing knowledge of the outcomes that social mobilizations have at the level of politics and policies. At the end of the course, students will be able to: - critically discuss the main approaches related to the outcomes of social mobilizations at the level of politics and policies; - compare the political effects of social mobilitazions across different countries and different territorial levels; - evaluate specific cases of social mobilizations with regard to their intended and unintended political effects.

Course contents

The course focuses on both theories and practices related to the political effects of social movements.

The course is divided in three parts. In its first part, the course's lectures discuss on social movements and their features, paying particular attention to the relationship between social movements and (digital) media. In the second part of the course, the lectures assess social movements' outcomes at the level of policy, politics and polity. In the final and third part of the course, the lecture explore some effects and dilemmas that social movement organizations and civil society associations face when it comes to social movement outcomes.

The schedule of the course is the following:

PART 1 - SETTING THE CONTEXT: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN THE DIGITAL AGE

WEEK 1

Day 1: Introduction to the course

Day 2: What do we talk about when we talk about social movements

WEEK 2

Day 1: Social movements and the mainstream press

Day 2: Social movements and alternative media

WEEK 3

Day 1: Social movements and digital media

Day 2: Social movements and the logic of connective action


WEEK 4

Day 1: Social movements and data-activism

Day 2: Wrap up of Part 1 of the course

PART 2 - UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL MOVEMENT OUTCOMES AT THE LEVEL OF POLICY, POLITICS AND POLITY

WEEK 5

Day 1: Social movements outcomes at the level of policy

Day 2: Social movement outcomes at the level of politics


WEEK 6

Day 1: Social movement outcomes at the level of polity

Day 2: Wrap up of Part 2 of the course

PART 3 - EFFECTS AND DILEMMAS OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS’ OUTCOMES

WEEK 7

Day 1: Social movement and political violence: the dilemma of the radical flank effect

Day 2: The institutionalization of social movements: a loss or a gain for social movement organizations and activists?

WEEK 8

Day 1: Features and outcomes of flash activism: the case of the COVID-19 tests scandal in Bangladesh

Day 2: Dilemmas of transnational social movements in the diaspora: the case of the Hirak movement in Algeria

WEEK 9

Day 1: The blurring boundaries between activism and journalism: the case of Italian and Spanish pro-transparency movements

Day 2: The role of digital media in shaping social movement outcomes: the case of two anti-corruption campaigns in Brazil

WEEK 10

Day 1: Framing dilemmas for policy outcomes of social movements

Day 2: Wrap up of Part 2 of the course

Please note that the topics covered during classes might be subject to slight variations.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students are required to read and study all the compulsory readings listed in the Course Contents section.

Non-attending students are required to read and study all the compulsory readings listed in the Course Contents section and the following books:

• Donatella della Porta and Mario Diani (2020) Social Movements: An Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell
• David Meyer (2021) How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter, Polity Press

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures, in-depth analysis of specific case studies, and interactive sessions with the students.

Assessment methods

Attending students will be evaluated through two main tools:

• A final paper of 4,000-5,000 words about one of the topics covered during the course, to be agreed in advance with the instructor (50%)
• An oral exam that will cover the lectures, the contents of compulsory readings and the students' final papers (50%)

Attending students will be those students who will attend at least 70% of classes. Those students who will attend less classes will be considered non-attending students.

Please note that precise instructions on the final paper and the oral exam will be presented by the instructor during the first day of class and will be uploaded in the Virtual Platform in due time.

Non-attending students will be evaluated through two main tools:

• A final paper of 6,000-7,000 words about one of the topics covered during the course, to be agreed in advance with the instructor (50%)
• An oral exam that will cover the contents of compulsory readings and the students' final papers (50%)

Please note that compulsory readings for non-attending students are all the compulsory readings listed in the Course Contents section and the following books:

• Donatella della Porta and Mario Diani (2020) Social Movements: An Introduction, Wiley-Blackwell
• David Meyer (2021) How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter, Polity Press

Teaching tools

Power Point presentations, multi-media materials, and practical exercises will support teaching and learning activities.

Office hours

See the website of Alice Mattoni