This course examines how social change occurs outside the state and the dynamics of collective mobilization in a local, national and international context. We will examine a myriad of forms of collective action, including riots, rebellions, non-governmental organizations, protests, political action, cultural change, religions and social movements. You will be exposed to numerous energetic debates on the nature of collective behaviour including: What leads people to act collectively? What is the nature of this collective action – what form does it take? How do people develop protest tactics (and how do we evaluate the success/failure of these actions)? Are social movements a natural and healthy part of a modern society, or do they represent a breakdown and disruption of the social order? The course emphasizes inter-disciplinary learning, historical sociology and combines theoretical with empirical studies of collective behaviour.
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