SOCIAL MOVEMENTS & GLOBALIZATION

Transcription

1 SOCIAL MOVEMENTS & GLOBALIZATION Sociology 920:585 Spring Semester 2015 Engelhard Hall 201 Thursdays 2:30 to 5:20 p.m. Professor Kurt Schock tel: Dept. of Sociology & Anthropology fax: Hill Hall, 360 M.L.K. Blvd. e- mail: Rutgers University office hours: Tuesdays 11:00 a.m. to Newark, NJ :00 p.m., & by appointment OVERVIEW In this graduate seminar we will examine social movements in the context of globalization. Topics include: (1) how globalization and global civil society are changing the nature of political activism and contention, (2) local, national, and transnational social movements that have developed in response to various injustices some of which have been exacerbated by economic globalization and (3) alternative visions of politics and society that are emerging from the alternative globalization (global justice) movement. A number of social movements will be discussed including the human rights movement, Islamist movements, the women s movement, the environmental movement, the labor movement, peasant movements, and movements concerned with land use, sustainable development, and international inequality. The course is interdisciplinary, drawing on theories and research from the areas of social movements, international relations, comparative politics, political economy, and development. By the end of the course you should: recognize ideological distortions of neoliberalism, such as the alleged separation of economics from politics understand why people protest against (resist) aspects of globalization in its current form and why people struggle for alternative forms of globalization recognize how international forces contribute to political conflict within countries and how conflict within countries is framed in a global manner understand the increasing transnational connections among activists, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), and social movement organizations (SMOs) recognize the impact of social movements on culture, state policy, and corporate behavior be familiar with basic concepts and theoretical frameworks available to researchers interested in studying social movements and contentious politics

2 REQUIREMENTS Participation in class discussions: This course is organized as a seminar, not as a lecture. Therefore you must complete the required readings before the class meeting for which they are assigned, and it is expected that you actively participate in the discussion of the readings. In addition to demonstrating an understanding of the main arguments and themes of the readings, you are encouraged to think critically about the readings (i.e., identify strengths and weaknesses), compare and contrast them to other readings or literatures, and make connections to ongoing social processes and current events. Rapporteur: For 6 of the 10 weeks in which there are required readings, one student will be designated as a rapporteur who is responsible for: (1) e- mailing 6 to 8 discussion questions to the seminar members at least 48 hours before the class meets (no later than Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.), and (2) presenting to the class a concise summary of the main points and arguments of the readings (time limit: 25 minutes). Essays: Six essay questions will be distributed throughout the semester. You are required to submit answers to 5 of the 6 essay questions. If 6 essays are submitted, then the lowest score will be dropped. Paper & presentation: A paper is required on a topic of your choice that falls within the substantive domain of the course, such as a social movement organization (SMO), a contentious political event, or relevant theoretical issue. You must attain approval from the professor of your topic. After getting approval, submit a 2- page paper that describes your topic and includes a preliminary bibliography with at least 10 scholarly sources. Please follow APSA guidelines while preparing your bibliography. This is due on at the beginning of class on Thursday, March 5. The paper is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, April 30. The paper should be 15 to 20 double- spaced pages. Presentations will be scheduled for Thursday, April 30. Presentations should be no more than 15 minutes in length. Details will be provided in a separate handout. Grading: Participation in class discussions % Rapporteur % Essays % Paper & presentation % - 2-

3 TEXTS Required readings: books / Availability: [BB] = Blackboard; [DL] = Dana Library Reserves; [NJ] = NJ Books. Almeida, Paul Mobilizing Democracy: Globalization and Citizen Protest. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. [DL] [NJ] Castells, Manuel Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age. Cambridge: Polity. [DL] [NJ] Smith, Jackie Social Movements for Global Democracy. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. [DL] [NJ] Steger, Manfred (3 rd ed). Globalisms: The Great Ideological Struggle of the Twenty- First Century, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. [BB] [DL] [NJ] Tarrow, Sidney The New Transnational Activism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. [BB] [DL] [NJ] Wolford, Wendy This Land is Ours Now: Social Mobilization and the Meanings of Land in Brazil. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. [DL] [NJ] Required readings: articles or chapters / Available on Blackboard. Giugni, Marco, Marko Bandler & Nina Eggert The Global Justice Movement: How Far Does the Classical Social Movement Agenda Go in Explaining Transnational Contention. Geneva: United Nations Research Institute for Social Development, Civil Society and Social Movements, Programme Paper Number 24. Moghadam, Valentine M Global Social Movements and Transnational Advocacy. In The Wiley- Blackwell Companion to Political Sociology, ed. by Edwin Amenta, Kate Nash, and Alan Scott. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. - 3-

4 Recommended readings: articles or chapters / Available on Blackboard. Almeida, Paul D Globalization & Collective Action. Chapter 17 in Handbook of Politics: State & Society in Global Perspective, ed. by Kevin T. Leicht & J. Craig Jenkins. New York: Springer. Chin, Christine B. N. & James H. Mittleman Conceptualising Resistance to Globalisation. New Political Economy 2: Evans, Peter Counterhegemonic Globalization: Transnational Social Movements in the Contemporary Global Political Economy. Chapter 32 in The Handbook of Political Sociology, ed. by Thomas Janoski, Robert Alford, Alexander Hicks, & Mildred A. Schwartz. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Evans, Peter Is an Alternative Globalization Possible? Politics & Society 36: Garrett, R. Kelly Protest in an Information Society: A Review of Literature on Social Movements and New ICTs. Information, Communication & Society 9: Kahn, Richard & Douglas Kellner Resisting Globalization. Chapter 34 in The Blackwell Companion to Globalization, ed. by George Ritzer. Oxford: Blackwell. Keck, Margaret & Kathryn Sikkink Transnational Advocacy Networks in International & Regional Politics. International Social Science Journal 51: McMichael, Philip Globalization and the Agrarian World. Chapter 10 in The Blackwell Companion to Globalization, ed. by George Ritzer. Oxford: Blackwell. Smith, Jackie Transnational Processes and Movements. Chapter 14 in The Blackwell Companion to Social Movements, ed. by David A. Snow, Sarah A. Soule, & Hanspeter Kriesi. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. Van Laer, Jeroen, and Peter Van Aelst Internet and Social Movement Action Repertoires. Information, Communication & Society 13:

5 SCHEDULE [Revised] The schedule may be modified. If so, changes will be announced in class. Thursday, January 22 Introduction to the course. Thursday, January 29 Required: Moghadam (2012); Giugni et al. (2006). Recommended: Chin & Mittelman (1997). Thursday, February 5 No class Thursday, February 12 Required: Steger (2009). Recommended: Evans (2005). Essay 1 is due. Thursday, February 19 No class Thursday, February 26 Required: Almeida (2014). Recommended: Almeida (2009). Essay 2 is due. - 5-

6 Thursday, March 5 Required: Tarrow (2005): chapters 1 5. Recommended: Keck & Sikkink (1999). Description of paper topic and preliminary bibliography are due. Thursday, March 12 Required: Tarrow (2005): chapters Recommended: Smith (2004). Essay 3 is due. Thursday, March 19 No class- spring break Thursday, March 26 Required: Castells (2012). Recommended: Garrett (2006); Van Laer & Van Aelst (2010). Essay 4 is due. Thursday, April 2 Required: Smith (2008): chapters 1 6. Recommended: Kahn & Kellner (2007). Thursday, April 9 Required: Smith (2008): chapters 7-10 & conclusion Recommended: Evans (2008). Essay 5 is due. - 6-

7 Thursday, April 16 Required: Wolford (2010). Recommended: McMichael (2007). Essay 6 is due. Thursday, April 23 Guest presentation: Srdja Popovic, Centre for Applied Non Violent Actions and Strategies, Belgrade, Serbia. Thursday, April 30 Papers are due. Student presentations. - 7-

8 Seminar Format This graduate course is organized as a seminar rather than a lecture. Although the professor may occasionally lecture on a topic, the basis of this course is the informed discussion of the readings. In contrast to a passive lecture format, seminars emphasize class participation. A seminar is a place where readings are discussed, questions are raised and debates are conducted. Knowledge is gained through the creative insights that inevitably arise as a result of informed discussion. Although one or more rapporteurs will lead each week s discussions, all students are expected to participate in the discussions. Do not hesitate to participate in the class discussions. There are no right or wrong answers or contributions. Please note you should not take this course if you cannot commit to completing the required readings on time and participating in the class discussions of the readings. Role of Rapporteur 1. As a rapporteur, you are required to e- mail a list of 6 to 8 discussion questions to the seminar members no later than 2:30 p.m. on the Tuesday before the class meets (i.e., 48 hours before the class). 2. When we meet in class, please re- distribute the list of discussion questions in a handout. 3. You are required to present to the class the main ideas of the readings. You are encouraged to identify strengths and weaknesses of the readings. Be concise. There is a 25- minute time limit. 4. If you like, you may use PowerPoint, Keynote, Prezi, etc. for your presentation. Of course, it is not necessary to do so. - 8-