Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - IS 339 D100

Social Movements in the Global South (4)

Class Number: 4211

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 4, 2025
    Thu, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines the nature, activities, and effects of social movements across the Global South. Uses an interdisciplinary approach to explore how social movements shape and respond to political, economic, and social transformation. Considers their relationship with political parties, states, and media and assesses the conditions under which movements emerge and succeed. Students who have taken IS 329 or IS 419 with this topic, or IS 439 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

From racial justice mobilizations in Brazil to pro-democracy activism in Tunisia, social movements around the world are commonly credited with driving multiple processes of political, social, and cultural transformation. But how can we define and understand phenomena as diverse and complex as contemporary social movements? This course aims to build a conceptual and theoretical toolkit for doing so by examining the interplay between foundational and emerging scholarship on social movements in the global South. The seminar introduces current research on movements globally and considers how such scholarship dialogues with canonical work from sociology and other social sciences. Thus, we become familiar with key concepts and theories that social movement scholars have used to gain analytic purchase on major questions in the field, such as the following: What are social movements? What do social movements do? How do they operate? What relationships have they had to political parties, states, and media? What kinds of consequences have they had? When do social movements get what they want? Then, we consider the utility of canonical theories and conceptual approaches to these questions in light of recent empirical research on movements and contentious politics in the global South.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

By the end of the course, students:

  • gain substantive knowledge about social movements in the Global South;
  • improve their comprehension of social scientific arguments about them;
  • improve skills in synthesizing such arguments;
  • improve skills in assessing such arguments

Grading

  • 5 Discussion Papers (6.5% x 4 highest scores out of 5 papers) 26%
  • 5 Responses to Discussion Papers (1% x 4 highest scores out of responses) 4%
  • In-class Exam 30%
  • Essay 30%
  • Class Participation 10%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

We will read large parts of the following books. Both are required and freely accessible at: https://www.lib.sfu.ca.

REQUIRED READING:

Tarrow, Sidney. 2011. Power in Movement: Social Movements and Contentious Politics. (Revised and Updated Third Edition). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Tufekci, Zeynep. 2017. Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.