| Block | Date | Theme | Content | Key Actors | Key literature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| social movement theories | 2025-10-16 | 1. Introduction and the development of social movements (SMs) | Tarrow | ||
| 2025-10-23 | 2. SM theories: collective behaviour, resource mobilisation, political processes | grievance, relative deprivation; strategy, tactics, resources, organisations; opportunity structures, threats | groups/ organisations (agency); institutions (structure) | Boudreau; Kitschelt | |
| 2025-10-30 | 3. SM theories: framing, civil society | diagnostic, prognostic, motivational frames (among others); (un)civil society | movement organisations; civil society actors | Benford and Snow; Berman | |
| aspects of social movement activity | 2025-11-06 | 4. Mobilisation, recruitment, participation | mobilising structures; social networks; recruitment and influencers | movement organisations; social networks | della Porta and Diani; Tarrow |
| 2025-11-13 | 5. Collective identity and emotions | intersectionality; collective identity | movement organisations; collective actors | Polletta and Jasper | |
| 2025-11-20 | 6. Organisation, strategies and tactics | hierarchical and horizontal organisation; direct/disruptive and indirect/ demonstrative action | movement organisations; leaders | della Porta and Diani; McAdam | |
| 2025-12-04 | 7. SMs and the media | agenda-setting; gatekeepers | movement organisations; news media actors | Jennings and Saunders; McCarthy | |
| 2025-12-11 | 8. SM coalitions | coalition; bridging | movements; movement organisations | Heinze and Weisskircher; McCammon | |
| 2025-12-18 | 9. State responses | accommodation, disregard, opposition; repression | movements; movement organisations; state authorities; political parties | Berntzen and Weisskircher | |
| 2026-01-08 | 10. Counter-mobilisation and countermovements | counter-mobilisation characteristics | (counter-)movements; (counter-)movement organisations | Meyer and Staggenborg | |
| social movements online, in effect, dying out, and going forward | 2026-01-15 | 11. SMs online | social media platforms; transnationalisation | individuals; activists; networks | Diani; Volk |
| 2026-01-22 | 12. SM impact | individual, group, political, cultural impacts | movement organisations; activists | Amenta; Madestam; Cress and Snow | |
| 2026-01-29 | 13. Demobilisation | internal and external demobilising factors | individuals; movement organisations | Zeller | |
| 2026-02-05 | 14. Contemporary social movements and beyond: climate, migration | contemporary climate- and migration-related activism | movements; movement organisations | Rone and Fielitz; Zhang |
Readings
Course outline and readings
Class 1 - Introduction and the development of social movements (SMs)
Required reading
- Introduction and Chapter 1 from Tarrow SG (2011). Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious, Politics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN, 978-0-511-97352-9, doi:10.1017/CBO9780511973529, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511973529, 1011.1669v3.
Reading file
Class 2 - SM theories: collective behaviour, resource mobilisation, political processes
Required reading
- Boudreau V (1996). “Northern Theory, Southern Protest: Opportunity, Structure Analysis in Cross-National Perspective.” Mobilization,, 1(2), 175-189.
Reading file
- Kitschelt H (1986). “Political Opportunity Structures and Political, Protest: Anti-Nuclear Movement in Four Democracies.” British Journal, of Political Science, 16(1), 57-85. ISSN 0007-1234,, doi:10.1017/S000712340000380X, https://doi.org/10.1017/S000712340000380X.
Reading file
Further reading
- Giugni M, Koopmans R, Passy F, Statham P (2005). “Institutional and, Discursive Opportunities for Extreme-Right Mobilization in Five, Countries.” Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 10(1),, 145-162. ISSN 1086-671X.
Reading file
- Guzman-Concha C (2015). “Radical Social Movements in Western Europe: A, Configurational Analysis.” Social Movement Studies, 14(6), 668-691., ISSN 1474-2837, 1474-2829, doi:10.1080/14742837.2014.998644, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2014.998644, <2023-03-13>.
Reading file
- McCarthy JD, Zald MN (1977). “Resource Mobilization and Social, Movements: A Partial Theory.” American Journal of Sociology, 82(6),, 1212-1241. ISSN 0002-9602, doi:10.1086/226464, https://doi.org/10.1086/226464, 1011.1669v3.
Reading file
Class 3 - SM theories: framing, civil society
Required reading
- Benford RD, a Snow D (2000). “Framing Processes and Social Movements:, An Overview and Assessment.” Annual Review Sociologic, 26(1974),, 611-639. ISSN 0360-0572, doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.26.1.611, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.26.1.611.
Reading file
- Berman S (1997). “Civil Society and the Collapse of the Weimar, Republic.” World Politics, 49(3), 401-429. ISSN 0043-8871,, doi:10.1353/wp.1997.0008 https://doi.org/10.1353/wp.1997.0008.
Reading file
Further reading
- Heinrich VF (2005). “Studying Civil Society across the World: Exploring, the Thorny Issues of Conceptualization and Measurement.” Journal of, Civil Society, 1(3), 211-228. ISSN 1744-8689,, doi:10.1080/17448680500484749, https://doi.org/10.1080/17448680500484749.
Reading file
- Ziegler CE (2010). “Civil Society, Political Stability, and State Power, in Central Asia: Cooperation and Contestation.” Democratization,, 17(5), 795-825. ISSN 13510347, doi:10.1080/13510347.2010.501172, https://doi.org/10.1080/13510347.2010.501172.
Reading file
Class 4 - Mobilisation, recruitment, participation
Required reading
- Chapter 5 from della Porta D, Diani M (2009). Social Movements: An Introduction., Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0-08-044910-4,, doi:10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8.
Reading file
- Chapter 5 from Tarrow SG (2011). Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious, Politics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN, 978-0-511-97352-9, doi:10.1017/CBO9780511973529, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511973529, 1011.1669v3.
Reading file
Further reading
- Daphi P, Haunss S, Sommer M, Teune S (2021). “Taking to the Streets in, Germany-Disenchanted and Confident Critics in Mass Demonstrations.”, German Politics, 0(0), 1-29. ISSN 17438993,, doi:10.1080/09644008.2021.1998459, https://doi.org/10.1080/09644008.2021.1998459.
Reading file
- Gorski P, Lopresti-Goodman S, Rising D (2018). “``Nobody’s Paying Me to, Cry’’: The Causes of Activist Burnout in United States Animal Rights, Activists.” Social Movement Studies, 1-17. ISSN 1474-2837,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2018.1561260, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2018.1561260.
Reading file
- Hellmeier S, Vüllers J (2022). “Dynamics and Determinants of Right-Wing, Populist Mobilisation in Germany.” West European Politics, 1-14. ISSN, 0140-2382, 1743-9655, doi:10.1080/01402382.2022.2135909, https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2022.2135909, <2022-11-23>.
Reading file
Class 5 - Collective identity and emotions
Required reading
- Polletta F, Jasper JM (2001). “Collective Identity and Social, Movements.” Annual review of Sociology, 27(1), 283-305.
Reading file
Further reading
- Chapter 4 from della Porta D, Diani M (2009). Social Movements: An Introduction., Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0-08-044910-4,, doi:10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8.
Reading file
- Guenther KM, Radojcic N, Mulligan K (2015). “Humor, Collective, Identity, and Framing in the New Atheist Movement.” In Research in, Social Movements, Conflicts and Change, Volume 38, 203-230. Emerald, Group Publishing, Bingley.
Reading file
- Ransan-Cooper H, A. Ercan S, Duus S (2018). “When Anger Meets Joy: How, Emotions Mobilise and Sustain the Anti-Coal Seam Gas Movement in, Regional Australia.” Social Movement Studies, 17(6), 635-657. ISSN, 14742829, doi:10.1080/14742837.2018.1515624, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2018.1515624.
Reading file
Class 6 - Organisation, strategies and tactics
Required reading
- Chapter 6 from della Porta D, Diani M (2009). Social Movements: An Introduction., Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0-08-044910-4,, doi:10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8.
Reading file
- McAdam D (1983). “Tactical Innovation and the Pace of Insurgency.”, American Sociological Review, 48(6), 735-754.
Reading file
Further reading
- Duncombe S, Harrebye S (2022). “The Copenhagen Experiment: Testing the, Effectiveness of Creative vs. Conventional Forms of Activism.” Social, Movement Studies, 21(6), 741-765. ISSN 1474-2837, 1474-2829,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2021.1967125, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2021.1967125, <2022-11-09>.
Reading file
- Rojas F (2006). “Social Movement Tactics, Organizational Change and the, Spread of African-American Studies.” Social Forces, 84(4),, 2147-2166.
Reading file
- Staggenborg S, Lecomte J (2009). “Social Movement Campaigns:, Mobilization and Outcomes in the Montreal Women’s Movement Community.”, Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 14(2), 163-180. ISSN, 1086671X.
Reading file
Class 7 - SMs and the media
Required reading
- Jennings W, Saunders C (2019). “Street Demonstrations and the Media, Agenda: An Analysis of the Dynamics of Protest Agenda Setting.”, Comparative Political Studies, 52(13-14), 2283-2313. ISSN 15523829,, doi:10.1177/0010414019830736, https://doi.org/10.1177/0010414019830736.
Reading file
Further reading
- Chapter 8 from della Porta D, Diani M (2009). Social Movements: An Introduction., Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0-08-044910-4,, doi:10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8.
Reading file
- McCarthy JD, Mcphail C, Smith J (1996). “Images of Protest: Dimensions, of Selection Bias in Media Coverage of Washington Demonstrations, 1982, and 1991.” American Sociological Review, 61(3), 478-499.
Reading file
Class 8 - SM coalitions
Required reading
- Heinze AS, Weisskircher M (2022). “How Political Parties Respond to, Pariah Street Protest: The Case of Anti-Corona Mobilisation in, Germany.” German Politics, 0(0), 1-22. ISSN 17438993,, doi:10.1080/09644008.2022.2042518, https://doi.org/10.1080/09644008.2022.2042518.
Reading file
Further reading
- Holdo M (2019). “Cooptation and Non-Cooptation: Elite Strategies in, Response to Social Protest.” Social Movement Studies, 00(00), 1-19., ISSN 1474-2837, doi:10.1080/14742837.2019.1577133, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2019.1577133.
Reading file
- McCammon HJ, Bergner EM, Arch SC (2015). “Are You One of Those Women?”, Within-movement Conflict, Radical Flank Effects, and Social Movement, Political Outcomes.” Mobilization: An International Quarterly,, 20(2), 157-178. ISSN 1086671X.
Reading file
Class 9 - State responses
Required reading
- Berntzen LE, Weisskircher M (2016). “Anti-Islamic PEGIDA Beyond, Germany: Explaining Differences in Mobilisation.” Journal of, Intercultural Studies, 37(6), 556-573. ISSN 14699540,, doi:10.1080/07256868.2016.1235021, https://doi.org/10.1080/07256868.2016.1235021.
Reading file
Further reading
- Chapter 8 from della Porta D, Diani M (2009). Social Movements: An Introduction., Oxford University Press, Oxford. ISBN 978-0-08-044910-4,, doi:10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00803-8.
Reading file
Class 10 - Counter-mobilisation and countermovements
Required reading
- Meyer DS, Staggenborg S (1996). “Movements, Countermovements, and the, Structure of Political Opportunity.” American Journal of Sociology,, 101(6), 1628-1660.
Reading file
- Reynolds-Stenson H, Earl J (2018). “Clashes of Conscience:Explaining, Counterdemonstration At Protests.” Mobilization: An International, Quarterly, 23(3), 263-284. ISSN 1086-671X,, doi:10.17813/1086-671X-23-3-263, https://doi.org/10.17813/1086-671X-23-3-263.
Reading file
Further reading
- Farrington C (2008). “Mobilisation, State Crisis and, Counter-Mobilisation: Ulster Unionist Politics and the Outbreak of the, Troubles.” Irish Political Studies, 23(4), 513-532. ISSN 0790-7184,, doi:10.1080/07907180802452747, https://doi.org/10.1080/07907180802452747.
Reading file
- Gold T, Peña AM (2018). “Protests, Signaling, and Elections:, Conceptualizing Opposition-Movement Interactions during Argentina’s, Anti-Government Protests (2012-2013).” Social Movement Studies,, 00(00), 1-22. ISSN 1474-2837, doi:10.1080/14742837.2018.1555751, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2018.1555751.
Reading file
- Hager A, Hensel L, Hermle J, Roth C (2021). “Group Size and Protest, Mobilization across Movements and Countermovements.” American, Political Science Review, 1-16. ISSN 0003-0554,, doi:10.1017/s0003055421001131, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0003055421001131.
Reading file
- Hamdaoui S (2022). “A ``Stylistic Anti-Populism’’: An Analysis of the, Sardine Movement’s Opposition to Matteo Salvini in Italy.” Social, Movement Studies, 21(4), 436-452. ISSN 1474-2837, 1474-2829,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2021.1899910, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2021.1899910, <2023-03-23>.
Reading file
- Inclán M (2012). “Zapatista and Counter-Zapatista Protests: A Test of, Movement-Countermovement Dynamics.” Journal of Peace Research,, 49(3), 459-472. ISSN 00223433, doi:10.1177/0022343311434238, https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343311434238.
Reading file
- Sewell SA (2020). “Antifascism in the Neighborhood: Daily Life,, Political Culture, and Gender Politics in the German Communist, Antifascist Movement, 1930-1933.” Fascism, 9(1-2), 167-194. ISSN, 2211-6249, 2211-6257, doi:10.1163/22116257-20201175, https://doi.org/10.1163/22116257-20201175, <2023-03-29>.
Reading file
Class 11 - SMs online
Required reading
- Diani M (2000). “Social Movement Networks Virtual and Real.”, Information, Communication & Society, 3(3), 386-401. ISSN, 1369-118X, doi:10.1080/13691180051033333, https://doi.org/10.1080/13691180051033333.
Reading file
- Volk S (2021). “Political Performances of Control During COVID-19:, Controlling and Contesting Democracy in Germany.” Frontiers in, Political Science, 3, 1-16. ISSN 2673-3145,, doi:10.3389/fpos.2021.654069, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2021.654069, <2023-03-30>.
Reading file
Further reading
- von Bülow M (2018). “The Survival of Leaders and Organizations in the, Digital Age: Lessons From the Chilean Student Movement.” Mobilization:, An International Quarterly, 23(1), 45-64. ISSN 1086-671X,, doi:10.17813/1086-671X-23-1-45, https://doi.org/10.17813/1086-671X-23-1-45.
Reading file
Class 12 - SM impact
Required reading
- Amenta E, Caren N, Chiarello E, Su Y (2010). “The Political, Consequences of Social Movements.” Annual Review of Sociology,, 36(1), 287-307. ISSN 0360-0572, doi:10.1146/annurev-soc-070308-120029, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-070308-120029.
Reading file
- Madestam A, Shoag D, Veuger S, Yanagizawa-Drott D (2013). “Do Political, Protests Matter? Evidence from the Tea Party Movement.” The Quarterly, Journal of Economics, 128(4), 1633-1685., doi:10.1093/qje/qjt021.Advance, https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjt021.Advance.
Reading file
Further reading
- Cress D, Snow D (2000). “The Outcomes of Homeless Mobilization: The, Influence of Organization, Disruption, Political Mediation, and, Framing.” American Journal of Sociology, 105(4), 1063-1104.
Reading file
- Giugni M, Yamasaki S (2009). “The Policy Impact of Social Movements: A, Replication Through Qualitative Comparative Analysis.” Mobilization:, An International Quarterly, 14(4), 467-484. ISSN 1086-671X,, doi:10.17813/maiq.14.4.m2w21h55x5562r57, https://doi.org/10.17813/maiq.14.4.m2w21h55x5562r57.
Reading file
- Huang R, Sun X (2019). “Dual Mediation and Success of Environmental, Protests in China: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of 10 Cases.”, Social Movement Studies, 19(4), 408-425. ISSN 14742829,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2019.1682539, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2019.1682539.
Reading file
- Mazumder S (2017). “Yes, Marches Can Make a Difference. It Depends on, These Three Factors.” The Washington Post, 1-4.
Reading file
- Mazumder S (2018). “The Persistent Effect of U.S. Civil Rights Protests, on Political Attitudes.” American Journal of Political Science,, 62(4), 922-935. ISSN 0092-5853, 1540-5907, doi:10.1111/ajps.12384, https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12384, <2022-09-07>.
Reading file
Class 13 - Demobilisation
Required reading
- Zeller MC (2021). “Patterns of Demobilization: A Qualitative, Comparative Analysis (QCA) of Far-Right Demonstration Campaigns.”, Mobilization: An International Quarterly, 26(3), 267-284., doi:10.17813/1086-671X-26-3-267, https://doi.org/10.17813/1086-671X-26-3-267.
Reading file
Further reading
- Demirel-Pegg T (2017). “The Dynamics of the Demobilization of the, Protest Campaign in Assam.” International Interactions, 43(2),, 175-216. ISSN 15477444, doi:10.1080/03050629.2016.1128430, https://doi.org/10.1080/03050629.2016.1128430.
Reading file
- Kwok C, Chan NK (2022). “Datafication and Implicated Networks of, Demobilization: Social Movement Demobilization in Datafied Societies.”, Social Movement Studies, 1-18. ISSN 1474-2837, 1474-2829,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2022.2128326, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2022.2128326, <2022-10-14>.
Reading file
Class 14 - Contemporary social movements and beyond: climate, migration
Required reading
- Rone J, Fielitz M (2023). “
Stop the Pact! The Foreign Policy Impact, of the Far-Right Campaigning Against the Global Compact for Migration.”, Geopolitics, 1-24. ISSN 1465-0045, 1557-3028,, doi:10.1080/14650045.2023.2260314, https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2023.2260314, <2023-10-16>.
Reading file
- Zhang X (2023). “Diffusion Dynamics and Digital Movement: The Emergence, and Proliferation of the German-speaking #FridaysForFuture Network on, Twitter.” Social Movement Studies, 1-22. ISSN 1474-2837, 1474-2829,, doi:10.1080/14742837.2023.2211015, https://doi.org/10.1080/14742837.2023.2211015, <2023-05-17>.
Reading file
Further reading
- Barrie C, Fleming TG, Rowan SS (2023). “Does Protest Influence, Political Speech? Evidence from UK Climate Protest, 2017-2019.”, British Journal of Political Science, 1-18. ISSN 0007-1234,, 1469-2112, doi:10.1017/S0007123423000376, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007123423000376, <2023-09-10>.
Reading file
- Mols F, Jetten J (2014). “No Guts, No Glory: How Framing the Collective, Past Paves the Way for Anti-Immigrant Sentiments.” International, Journal of Intercultural Relations, 43(PA), 74-86. ISSN 01471767,, doi:10.1016/j.ijintrel.2014.08.014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2014.08.014.
Reading file