HIST 2225 - D1 Social Movements in US History

Abstract

Course description: Social movement shave become a familiar presence in our contemporary political landscape. Who hasn’t heard of Colin Kaepernick who started a movement protesting police brutality by refusing to stand during the national anthem, or, Black Lives Matter, White Supremacists movements, Alt-Right movement, and many others such as Tea Party movement, Occupy Wall Street (known also as “We are the 99%”), to name but a few examples. Our survey, however, will begin with American movements (and some counter movements) of the 19th and 20th century such as the abolitionist movement, women’s movements, the KKK, and Civil Rights movement. Entering into 21st century, we will also cross political boundaries and examine equally memorable Arab Spring movements of 2011, which inspired movements in many parts of the world, including Israel. How and why these movements come to dominate our current political life are some of the topics of the course. These questions are subjects of inquiry in variety of disciplines: history, sociology, and political science. In this course, we will explore some of the theories of these disciplines, while addressing the following topics: the grievances and frustrations with the established political, social, or cultural order; movement ideologies; use of violence, but also process of mobilization and organization, and the role of social media in contemporary movements. ___ Examines social movements and protest politics of 19th and 20th centuries. The course explores the ideology, political structures, mobilization, identity, and empowerment strategies of movements such as abolitionist movement, women's movement, populism, the KKK, movements of the era of the great Depression, movements of the 1960s, and the New Right. A comparative survey of contemporary movements which erupted in 2011 in Europe, in the US, and the Middle East (including Israel), will conclude the survey. 0.000 TO 3.000 Credit hours