The Politics of Urban Social Movements

The Politics of Urban Social Movements is a Social Science class taught by M. Ackelsberg.

Course Description
This course will examine a variety of U.S.-based movements, both historical and contemporary, that have been centered in cities in an effort to understand their special characteristics and the relationship between urban spaces and political action. We will explore a range of theoretical and case-study material on social-political movements in the urban context. Readings and class discussions will focus on the formation and development of group consciousness and of social movements; assignments will include archival research using primary documents from a variety of different movements. We will address questions such as: What, if anything, is unique about the urban context, and about those who engage in social activism? How do we understand the prominence of women in these movements? What is the role of global and national economic changes in the structuring of urban social movements?