GEOG 342 - Social Movements

1 unit(s)

People make history through their collective action, although not under conditions of their own choosing. As such, politics is never solely a top-down affair. To what extent do social movements provide vehicles for democracy? How do people define social problems and propose to resolve them? How do people recognize and negotiate common interests across social and spatial divisions (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, location)?

The course examines theoretical and historical (primary and secondary) texts to understand the theory and practice of political organizing—how communities have organized within and outside of the state to win healthy living and working conditions for themselves. Armed with this context, course participants/students evaluate present-day movements around housing, health care, education, policing and imprisonment, imperialism, and environmental and economic justice.

One 3-hour period.

Not offered in 2024/25.

Course Format: CLS