This seminar draws on the literature in political sociology and social movements to address sustained efforts to bring about social and political change. It is geared toward the problems and issues faced by groups involved in such efforts: (a) diagnosing the opportunities and constraints provided by the system in which they are operating; (b) analyzing the problems of mobilizing potential supporters and maintaining their continued loyalty and commitment; (c) devising effective strategies for influencing targets of change; and (d) dealing with counter-efforts at social control.

The course is intended as a core course for those interested in social economy and social justice and for those students who are considering political sociology or social movements as one of their special areas. We begin by looking at the theoretical roots of the study of contentious politics and then examine overviews of the state of the field today. In Part 2, we will consider the internal problems of the field of actors attempting to bring about social change. In Part 3, we will consider the opportunities and constraints under which these agents act in their attempts to bring about change and the efficacy of the strategies they pursue. In Part 4, we consider the cultural turn in social movements and the role of the mass media in symbolic politics and framing contests.

To make the material more concrete, we will utilize both a common case and individual cases to be chosen by the class participants. The civil rights movement will provide the common case.