Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:19
We live in an era of campaign activism, public protest and movement politics. While traditional politicians are maligned, political activism is on the rise, from the signing of online petitions to street rallies and public marches. This course examines the history of political activism and campaigning with a focus on how protest turns to power. Combining theoretical understanding and empirical investigation, it analyses how and why political activism takes place, and the factors that determine campaign success or failure. How do individual campaigners, groups and movements mobilise support? How do they effect change? How is the art of political activism and campaigning evolving?
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | First Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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The course aims to understand the changing character and impact of political activism in the world today, including international movements for race and gender equality and local-level campaigns like those against coal plants or fracking. Key theoretical ideas and concepts will be examined, namely understandings of political activism, campaigns and movements, and theories that help explain the emergence and development of campaigns, specifically their success or failure.
In-depth case study analysis will be used to consider the following themes: The issues that inspire activism around the world; individual motivations behind action; the variety of tactics associated with political activism (from the moderate to the radical); the organisation of protest and activism; how campaigns attempt to influence decision-makers; and political system effects i.e. how campaigns emerge, develop and influence in different political, economic and cultural settings.
Three key perspectives will be examined:
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 15 | Feedback Weeks | 17 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To identify societal issues and problems which lead to political activism, protest and dissent. |
| Factual | Understand | To understand the aims of different examples of political activism and campaigns, historically and in contemporary times. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To critically analyse the support base and organisation of political activist campaigns. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | To evaluate the achievements of various campaigns and movements, whether international or state level. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 19 | Feedback Weeks | 20 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To identify societal issues and problems which lead to political activism, protest and dissent. |
| Factual | Understand | To understand the aims of different examples of political activism and campaigns, historically and in contemporary times. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To critically analyse the support base and organisation of political activist campaigns. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | To evaluate the achievements of various campaigns and movements, whether international or state level. |
| Reflection | Create | To create a campaign (hypothetical or real-world), based on detailed knowledge and understanding of political activism as a campaigning tool. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 13 | Feedback Weeks | 14 | |
| Feedback |
Written feedback plus peer review |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To identify societal issues and problems which lead to political activism, protest and dissent. |
| Factual | Understand | To understand the aims of different examples of political activism and campaigns, historically and in contemporary times. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
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||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | To identify societal issues and problems which lead to political activism, protest and dissent. |
| Factual | Understand | To understand the aims of different examples of political activism and campaigns, historically and in contemporary times. |
| Procedural | Analyse | To critically analyse the support base and organisation of political activist campaigns. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | To evaluate the achievements of various campaigns and movements, whether international or state level. |
| Reflection | Create | To create a campaign (hypothetical or real-world), based on detailed knowledge and understanding of political activism as a campaigning tool. |
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