Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2022 - IS 305 E100

Challenging Power Around the Globe: Political Resistance and Protest (4)

Class Number: 5121

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 7 – Dec 6, 2022: Thu, 5:30–8:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 19, 2022
    Mon, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines various forms of resistance and protest, including everyday resistance and organized activism, with an emphasis on civil resistance. Investigates the conditions and outcomes of protest, focusing on a range of cases which may include Solidarity in Poland, the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and the American Civil Rights Movement. Students who have taken POL 339 or IS 309 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Protest was once thought to be an unconventional form of political participation – rare “bursts” taken up by “social undesirables” that had little impact on “real politics”: parties, elections, and policymaking. How times have changed. Scholars in the social sciences and the humanities now recognize the interplay between protest and other forms of political activity. Recent history is full of examples whereby large-scale social and political transformation occurred as a result of the initial or continued use of protest and civil resistance. Equally important are those non-events where history was not made, with protests fizzling out or being shut down without any substantial change. What has allowed some protest movements to succeed while others have failed? That is one key question that will be explored in the course.

Furthermore, over the last several years, protests and other forms of civil resistance have expanded in terms of their composition, frequency and global reach. Participants in contemporary protest cut across class and generational lines. More and more citizens believe that extra-parliamentary approaches to politics are the only solution to pressing social and economic issues. Local protests quickly become globalized and global protests quickly become localized. What has caused these developments to occur now and what does this mean for the shape of our politics to come? These questions too will take centre stage as we explore the ways in which power is being challenged across the globe.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

• Explain the successes and failures of protest movements.
• Analyze the changing nature of how protest and civil resistance is conducted across the globe.
• Explain the prevalence of protest and other forms of extra-parliamentary politics in the last decade.
• Analyze the similarities, differences, parallels and connections that exist between protest movements around the world.

Grading

  • Exploratory Piece 20%
  • Essay 25%
  • Presentation 5%
  • Final Exam 30%
  • Participation 20%

NOTES:

Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Canvas and Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.

The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Tormey, Simon. The End of Representative Politics. Polity, 2015.
ISBN: 9780745681962

Crouch, Colin. Post-Democracy: After the Crises. Polity, 2020.
ISBN: 9781509541577

Tufekci, Zeynep. Twitter and Teargas. Yale, 2018.
ISBN: 9780300234176

Tilly, Charles and Tarrow, Sidney. Contentious Politics. Oxford, 2015.
ISBN: 9780190255053

Butler, Judith. The Force of Non-Violence. Verso, 2021.
ISBN: 9781788732772

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html