91142 - Political Effects Of Social Mobilization

Academic Year 2019/2020

  • Docente: Alice Mattoni
  • Credits: 8
  • SSD: SPS/08
  • Language: English

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 will focus on both theories and practices related to the political effects of social mobilizations. Specific requirements related to the course (readings, in-class participation and attendance) will be presented in the syllabus that will be distributed and discussed the first day of class.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Week 1: Main concepts and current debates on the political effects of social mobilizations

Week 2: Effects on political structures

Week 3: Effects on political parties

Week 4: Effects on policy-making

Week 5: The endogenous conditions of success: forms and strategies of social mobilizations

Week 6: The exogenous conditions of success: political context and political mediation

Week 7: Case study: environmental mobilizations and their effects

Week 8: Case study: anti-corruption mobilizations and their effects

Week 9: Case study: transnational mobilizations and their effects

 Week 10: Beyond political effects of social mobilizations

Readings/Bibliography

Students who will regularly attend classes are required to study a list of book chapters, essays and articles that will be distributed the first day of class. These compulsory readings will be listed in the syllabus distributed and discussed the first day of class.

Students not attending classes are required to study a list of books and other materials that will be distributed the first day of class.

Teaching methods

The course will be based on lectures combined with in-class activities and students’ presentations. Academic guests and practitioners might give invited lectures on specific topics related to the course.

Assessment methods

Attendance

Students' active participation and regular attendance in class is required. Students will be required to sign attendance sheets each day of class. Students might skip 3 classes without any justification.

Assessment

Students who will regularly attend classes will be evaluated through three main tools:

  • Written final exam including both multiple-choice and open-ended questions (60%)
  • Group Work Presentation on a specific case study of political effects of social mobilizations (20%)
  • Group Work Final Paper on a specific case study of political effects of social mobilizations (20%)

Students not attending classes will be evaluated through two main tools:

  • Written final exam including both multiple-choice and open-ended questions (60%)
  • Individual Final Paper on a specific case study of political effects of social mobilizations (40%)

More detailed information on the final exams, the group work and the individual paper will be included in the syllabus distributed and discussed the first day of class.

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

SDGs

Gender equality Decent work and economic growth Reduced inequalities Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.