Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2009/10 |
SP30096: Global regimes & new social movements |
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Honours |
| Period: | Semester 2 |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | SP30096 Coursework - Supplementary Only (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
| Before taking this unit you must take SP10043 or take SP10044 |
| Description: | Aims: * To introduce students to social and political theories of the emergence and significance of new social movements (NSMs), such as anti-globalisation, environmentalism, feminism, and social forums; * To relate these to key changes in the functioning of the international economy and its principal institutions; * The unit also aims to explore similarities and differences amongst NSMs and between NSMs and older social movements through a series of case studies. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will have: * Knowledge of historical and contemporary perspectives of sociology in relation to popular movements and campaigns; * Knowledge of current developments in practice and research in a European and world context in relation to the activities of social movements; * Critical knowledge of the relationship between political and economic actors, such as business corporations and other organisations, and movements in society. Skills: Learning skills in the following areas will be augmented. How to: * Evaluate others' arguments and research; * Critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information; * Gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives, speakers etc.); * Select appropriate and relevant information from a wide source and large body of knowledge; * Synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding; * Effectively and efficiently apply principles of sociological analysis within the field of social movements and their economic and political contexts; * Develop sensitivity to the values and interests of others. Transferable and key skills will be developed in the use of : * inter-personal and communication skills; * essay research, preparation and writing skills; * presentation skills and verbal communication (i.e. seminar and tutorial contributions); * team and group working skills. Content: The theoretical and socio-economic context: the shrinking state, neo-liberalism and the internationalisation of capital, 'corporatisation' of social activities and policies, decline of labour movement politics, emergence of protest and campaigning movements, NGOs and the Third Sector. Similarities and differences between the new social movements. Case studies in the NSMs such as: anti-corporate campaigns; feminist, anti-globalisation, 'social forums', environmental movements, the 'new mutualism'. |