EP&E 267 01 / SOCY 216 01 / WGSS 314 01 Social Movements

Fall 2012

Ron Eyerman
Class time: Wednesdays, 1:30 to 3:20
Classroom: WLH 112
Office Hours Tuesday 10-12
This course is a seminar that will introduce you to the phenomena of social movements or collective
political protest. The course will focus on sociological approaches to social movements through
historical example. We will discuss new and old social movements, such as the labor movement,
fascism, student movements, womens movements, radical religious movements, and the movement for
environmental justice. Documentary film and music will be studied as well. Because this is a seminar
active participation in the class discussion is essential.
Course Requirements:
Regular attendance and class participation
Reading response papers
Mid-term examination
Research Paper

15% of final grade

15%
30%
40%

Students will write a 10-15 page research paper dealing with course themes on a topic of their own
choosing (in consultation with the instructor). Paper proposals are due by November 13. The final paper
is due on December 12.
Required Texts: Social Movements An Introduction by Della Porta and Diani
Articles available online at https://classesv2.yale.edu/portal/
Wednesday 29 August Introduction
Scenes from the documentary films Berkeley in the Sixties and The Life and Times of Harvey Milk
Wednesday 5 September Collective Behavior
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 1.
The Nazi Party by Hadley Cantril
Wednesday 12 September Resource Mobilization
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 6.
The Womens Movement by Jo Freeman.
Wednesday 19 September New Social Movements - 60s youth and student movements
Readings: Thomas Hayden A Letter to the New (Young) Left,From the Port Huron Statement and
Leftward Kicking and Screaming from Todd Gitlin The Sixties
Further scenes from Berkeley in the 60s
Wednesday 26 September Framing Protest
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 3

World Views of Pro-and Anti-Abortion Activists and Appendix 1: Methodology from Abortion and
the Politics of Motherhood by Kristin Luker .
Wednesday 3 October Oppositional Consciousness, sub culture
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapters 2 and 5.
Making an Alternative Popular Culture Eyerman and Jamison
Subculture by Dick Hebdidge
Wednesday 10 October Identities
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 4.
The movements of black music Eyerman and Jamison
Collective Identity in Social Movement Communities Lesbian feminist Mobilization Verta Taylor and
Nancy Whittier
Wednesday 17 October Midterm in class
Wednesday 31 October Repertoires and Performances
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 7 and 8.
Performing Opposition or How Movements Move Eyerman
Bodies that matter: the epistemology of street interactions, Scholl
Wednesday 7 November Cases -- Civil Rights, Anti Globalization
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 9.
Recruits to Civil Rights Activism Doug McAdam and What We Want Stokley Carmichael
Wednesday 14 November Inter networks
Readings: Della Porta and Diani Chapter 5.
From Virtual Public Spheres to Global Justice Lauren Langman.
Wednesday 28 November Movements and Memory
Readings: The Good, the Bad, and the Forgotten: Media Culture and Public Memory of the Civil
Rights Movement Edward P. Morgan
Narratives of Redemption: The Birmingham Church Bombing Trials and the Construction of Civil
Rights Memory, Renee Romano
Wednesday 5 December Conclusions and Paper idea Presentations
Final Paper Due December 12
Response Papers are due in good time before each class and cover the reading assignment for that day.
These need not be long, but should reveal that you have read and understood the assigned reading. These
responses should summarize the reading, express your reaction and pose some questions which might be
taken up and discussed in class.