Sociology 323 1 Fall 2014 TTh 3:30–4:45 Sociology 323 social movements Instructor: Jeff A. Larson E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: (410) 704-2929 Office: LA 3218 Office Hours: 12:30–2:00 (or by appt.) o verview Why do social movements occur? Early research on this question grew out of fears of “the crowd,” seen as an anti-democratic storm of mass hysteria, hurtling out of control. Sociologists later began to appreciate the democratic character of movements and the difficulties they face in organizing people, mobilizing resources, and navigating political systems. Who joins social movements? How are they organized? Do they matter, and if so, how? How do institutions influence them? This course takes up these and other formative questions in the field of social movement studies. This course provides a unique opportunity to learn and apply sociological insights to real world activism in Baltimore. It is organized around a semester-long community activism project that immerses students in the work of a local social movement organization (SMO). Students will learn and apply insights from social movement studies to their work and critically interpret and evaluate those insights in light of their experience. The nature of each student’s project depends on the evolving needs and opportunities of the particular SMO with which they work. The course therefore requires a measure of flexibility on the part of the student. g oals By the end of this course you will be able to:  Demonstrate an understanding of the major theoretical perspectives and key concepts in the study of social movements.  Critically interpret and evaluate sociological information in light of empirical evidence.  Apply theoretical and methodological tools of sociology to conceptualize and explain contemporary social movements. r eadings One required book is available for purchase in the bookstore:  Goodwin, Jeff, and James M. Jasper, eds. 2009. The Social Movements Reader: Cases and Concepts, Second Edition. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. All other readings can be downloaded from the course website (Blackboard). Because this course includes a substantial service component, it requires flexibility to adapt to the changing circumstances faced by the participating organizations. You may therefore be required to complete readings not listed in the syllabus.Sociology 323 2 community activism project This class requires a special commitment. In addition to reading, writing, exams, and class participation, it requires that you work up to 30 hours outside of class with a participating SMO (listed to the right). Much of this work will be off campus and you are responsible for your own transportation. You and a group of your classmates will work with the SMO under the direction of activists from the organization and in consultation with me. The work may be at times difficult, intimidating, and even tedious. No doubt it will challenge you in unexpected ways, but I am confident that this will be among the best rewards of this class. You can expect things to move quickly. You will begin working on your project by Week 2 and you will be making periodic reports to the class about that work for the remainder of the class. Making connections between your project and the course readings and lectures is paramount, so there is little room to fall behind. If you expect to miss more than a few classes (e.g., for athletics, family or work commitments) or worry that your course load will impede your ability to keep up with the work, this class might not be for you. However, if you put in the time and if you are committed to meet the challenge, I am confident that you will succeed and be pleased with the experience. assignments & grading EXAMS (200 pts.; 100 pts. each)—Two short-answer exams will test your understanding of the readings and lectures. Each covers one-half of the course material and I will devote one class prior to each exam to reviewing with you. These reviews will be driven by students’ questions. PROJECT PARTICIPATION (400 pts.)—To assess your work with the community partner, you will keep a log of your hours worked that I will periodically collect. Each entry will record (1) the number of hours per day you worked for the organization and (2) a brief note about the type of work you did that day. Most importantly, (3) you must get someone from the organization to sign or initial each entry to verify your work. Our community partners expect you to contribute up to 30 hours of quality work with them this semester (approx. 2 hrs./wk.). Your participation grade will reflect a combination of their satisfaction with your efforts and my assessment of your work on the project. Maryland PIRG’s mission is to deliver persistent, result-oriented public interest activism that protects consumers, encourages a fair, sustainable economy, and fosters responsive, democratic government. (www.marylandpirg.org) UNITE HERE is a labor union that represents workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, and airport industries. (www.unitehere.org) Environment Maryland is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. We believe Maryland is full of special places worth protecting and preserving for future generations. Defending our environment requires independent research, tough-minded advocacy and spirited grassroots action. That’s the idea behind Environment Maryland. (www.environmentmaryland.org) BUILD is an interfaith, multi-racial, and strictly non-partisan organization that has worked to improve housing, increase job opportunities, and rebuild schools and neighborhoods in Baltimore. The secret to BUILD’s success lies in its commitment to identify and develop leaders in every community where BUILD works. We rely on a radical tactic: We meet people face-to-face and build relationships that help to re-knit the frayed social fabric of our life. (www.buildiaf.org)Sociology 323 2 JOURNALS (300 pts.; 100 pts. each)—To encourage you to evaluate and apply sociological insights to your activist experience, and vice versa, I will periodically ask you to write journals that demonstrate the depth of your understanding of the course material, especially the readings. Some may be very brief (i.e., less than a page) while others are a little more involved (e.g.,