Community Organizing and Movement Building

SOCIOL 1263 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

This course will explore the theory, processes, strategies and tools of organizing and movement building. Close attention is placed on applying theory and learning from the past to inform contemporary organizing and movement building efforts.

We will discuss theories of power, empowerment, and leadership in the context of organizing and movement building and explore strategies for working with others to harness human agency, coalesce around shared values, build consensus and community power in service of freedom and justice in society. To learn how and why organizing works we will apply the literature as we examine alliances, coalitions, grassroots movements, and direct action, particularly over the last 20 years. This will draw on successful, failed, and muted organizing efforts across the cultural and socio-political spectrum, including the controversial, to learn how to build momentum, nurture community agency and self-determination. 

Students will connect the course material to causes in our world to which the concepts and practices of community organizing and movement building are applicable. No organizing experience is required, and students do not need to be actively immersed in an organization or organizing effort. The course will use materials from various sources and perspectives as well as lecture, discussion, activities and class guests, and will culminate in a teach-in.

All views are welcome in this course.

This is an Engaged Scholarship course and counts towards the course requirement for the Certificate in Civic Engagement.