140379 VO+UE VM5 / VM6 - Social Movements - A Global Perspective (2017S)

Social movements constitute central actors of social change and globalization. They act as brokers
diffusing knowledge across the globe and thereby establish between distinct regions. Social
movement studies developed as a marginal discipline since the 1960s, but has recently become
more and more popular. Despite successful efforts to theorize how collective action against social
grievances actually happens, social movement studies remains dominated by Eurocentric
perspectives.
This class will introduce students to the field of social movement studies from a global studies
perspective. First, historical origins and central concepts of social movement studies will be
explained. Students will then learn how social movements and globalization produce each other
from different perspectives. Some case studies of social movements will finally illustrate the
concepts and theories.
Students are asked to actively participate in discussions, present one of the texts and write a brief
assignment after the end of the class.

Preliminary Structure:
1. Introduction: definitions and elaboration of course structure
2. Origins of social movement studies; studying social movements
3. Concepts I: Political opportunities and political process; resource mobilization
4. Concepts II: Framing and identity
5. Concepts III: Social networks; social non-movements
6. Eurocentrism in social movement studies
7. Transnationalizing social movements
8. Global diffusion; North-South relations
9. Social movements and global capitalism I: world-systemic perspectives
10. Social movements and global capitalism II: global labor movement
11. Case study I: Global justice movement and world social forum
12. Case study II: Anti-debt movement
13. Case study III: Diffusion of 2011 protests
14. Conclusion: Open questions and discussions; assignments