Social movements are a critical component of modern governance. Collective action and protest events often capture the world’s imagination. But how do they come into being? When are they more likely to emerge? How do social groups mobilize, and choose protest tactics? Why some people come to participate and become activists, while others do not? Why do so many social movements fail in achieving their initial goals but, in the end, still transform societies? This course offers a critical engagement with these questions. It is designed to generate a robust understanding of theories explaining social movements, their origins and development, and the outcomes of such struggles. Focusing on Asia, the course examines the impact of collective action and unconventional politics on thematic issues such as political change, gender equality, environmental change, ethnic and religious identity. It concludes with a reflection on (old and new) tools and repertoires that social movements tend to mobilise – including arts and social media – to help students better grasp the many approaches to, and outcomes of, collective action, protest, and claim-making.

The course seeks to assess and summarise competing theories on the origins, mobilisation and success (and failure) of social movements challenging the status quo of powerful social, political, economic and cultural systems. Through unpacking this exciting phenomenon, it offers students the analytical tools and background to critically review, assess and reflect on the world’s historical as well as emerging social movements. Students will be able to explain the role of social movements and collective action in modern Asian societies and evaluate the normative and practical implications of their impact.
 

Continuous Assessment: 100%