Public Policy & Administration 697SM - ST-Soc Movements & Pub Policy

Protess are a common feature of American political and social life, and they have increasingly become a common vehicle for social change. Although social movements are often conceived as political outsiders, they play an influential role in the policy process. In this course, we will examine the dynamics of social movements?analyzing the conditions that give rise to them, shape their development, and the ultimate impact that they have on politics and American society. In examining a variety of social movements, we will focus on answering a number of important questions, including: what conditions give rise to movements at various historical times?; how do individuals become activists and get involved with protest movements?; what types of tactics and strategies do activists use in pressing for change?; and how do social movements affect the political process? We will also explore the methods or tools that scholars have used to understand social movement dynamics.