This course will introduce students to key concepts and theories from social movement studies, international relations and international political sociology. Students will learn about how both progressive and far right transnational social movements organise, communicate and impact global politics on matters such as inequality, climate change, reproductive rights, migration and peace.

1 hour Lecture x 10

2 x 1 hour Seminars x 10

None

None

Case study: 2000 words (50%)

Final essay: 2500 words (50%)

The aim of this course is to introduce students to the study of social movements that operate at the transnational level, drawing on key concepts and approaches from social movement theory, IR and International Political Sociology, in order to analyse their organisation, communication, strategies and the mechanisms through which they exercise influence. Students will learn to navigate multi-disciplinary perspectives when analysing contemporary international relations. It is intended that students develop critical skills as well as gain practical knowledge through their engagement with the course material, which will comprise academic literature as well as video and audio footage, speeches and texts, social media content and media reports from different areas of social movement mobilisation, including inequality, climate change, reproductive rights, migration, the role of science and peace.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Demonstrate an understanding of key theories and concepts in the study of global social movements;

■ Apply multi-disciplinary approaches to empirical case studies in global social mobilisation;

■ Critically assess mobilisation practices and competing claims put forward by global social movements;

■ Reflect on the mechanisms through which international non-governmental actors influence the course of global politics.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.