166-085 Identities & Action: Social Movements

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

25 points of first year sociology.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject explores emerging patterns of identity and action associated with contemporary social movements, and the implications for ways of thinking about contemporary social life. It examines the emerging forms of face-to-face organization and personalised commitment that characterise these movements, and the implications in terms of individual and collective identity, models of society and ethics. The subject develops a series of case studies, from the labour movement to new social movements such as the women's movement, gay and ethnic mobilisations, the student movement, and contemporary forms of humanitarian action such as animal rights, international solidarity movements, volunteering and anti-poverty action. On completion of the subject students should have a knowledge of main sociological approaches to action, commitment and identity, and be able to use these to undertake a case study.

Assessment

An essay of 2000 words and a fieldwork report of 2000 words.

Prescribed Texts

• A Melucci, Nomads of the Present: Social Movements and Individual Needs in Contemporary Society. Hutchison London, 1989.
• D Della Porta & M Diani, Social Movements: An Introduction. Blackwell, 1999.