SOCIAL MOVEMENTS STUDIES

The course aims at the following learning objectives
a) knowledge and understanding of the central issues in social movements studies
b) to apply this knowledge to present society and politics
c) to promote the ability of making judgment by classroom discussions and the analysis of case studies;
d) to promote communication abilities, such as how to communicate in English
e) to promote learning abilities so as to develop and consolidate competence in the field of social movements studies, elaborating a critical judgment in oral and written form.

Through the course, students will :
a) Adquire knowledge and understanding of the central issues in social movements studies
b) Improve their ability to apply this knowledge to present society and politics, improve their ability to critically read social and political phenomena
c) Improve their ability of making judgment by classroom discussions and the analysis of case studies;
d) Improve their communication abilities, such as how to communicate in English

Language skills, according to the admission requirements

The course aims to provide an introduction to the sociological analysis of contemporary social movements.
To this aim, after an introduction to sociology (where the main concepts, paradigms and theoretical approaches of the discipline will be illustrated), the course will focus on the main sociological approaches to the study of social movements. We will discuss for instance the difference between Resource mobilization theory, New social movements, and Global social movements approaches. Special attention will be given to the application of different perspectives to the analysis of concrete case-studies, as well as to the relation between social movements and social change.

Basic readings are:
- chapters 1 to 5 of "Social Movements. An Introduction", by Donatella Della Porta and Mario Diani
- chapters 8 to 15 of "Social Movements, 1768-2018" by Charles Tilly, Charles, Ernesto Castañeda, and Lesley J. Wood

The evaluation will be based on a 2h written exam, aimed at assessing theoretical and applied knowledge in the field of social movements studies, communication abilities and autonomy of judgement.
The exam will consist on open questions and is divided in two parts: 3 questions based on the selected chapters from Della Porta & Diani's book, and other 3 open questions about the chapters from Tilly et al.'s book. The final grade is made by the average of the grades for the first and second part of the exam.
***NB: Students who have participated in the 'DIALOGUES IN CLASS' activity (see moodle) will be exempt from answering the questions on Tilly et al. In this case, the grade for the second part of the exam will be replaced by the evaluation of their presentation in class.

The assessment concerns:
- the understanding of the main concepts addressed during the course;
- clarity in writing and presenting case studies and theoretical concepts;
- ability to analyse and critically engage with social and political phenomena addressed during the course.

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"Regarding the grading scale for the exam:

A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned for:

- Sufficient knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Limited ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Sufficient communication skills.

B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned for:

- Fair knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Fair ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Fair communication skills.

C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned for:

- Good or excellent knowledge of the textbooks and related topics

- Good or excellent ability to use data and form independent judgments

- Fully appropriate communication skills.

D. The “laude” will be awarded to students with excellent knowledge and comprehension of the textbooks and related topics."

The course consists of lectures and seminars in which the main concepts will be introduced and applied to relevant social and political phenomena, also by means of visual documents (ppt presentation, videos, pictures). Students are invited to contribute with critical questions and comments to the classroom discussion.
Students will also have the opportunity to present their homework in class, based on the assigned readings.