POL S 334 B: Topics in American Politics

Through the lenses of power, resistance, and identity, this course provides an introduction to American social movements. Drawing from history, sociology, and politics, it examines a range of social movements, including: Civil Rights, Black Lives Matter movement, Occupy Wallstreet, second and third wave feminism, gender-based violence movement, LGBTQ+ movements, and Right-wing mobilization.  Throughout the course you will learn how to (1) identify social movements, (2) understand movement tools for mobilization, (3) learn leadership roles and infrastructure that make movements possible, (4) evaluate the effectiveness of contentious politics and (4) build your own movement. Along the way, we will have deep discussions that draw from frameworks of intersectionality to delve into the complexities of organizing around issues and topics that affect groups across different identities. You will also have pre-assignments to complete before class to prepare you for engaging class simulations that allow you to apply what you are learning to real world and contemporary examples of movement organizing.