#Black Lives Matter. “Is this a moment or a movement?” (Taylor 2016) is one of the questions the course will consider. Other questions include: How did or does this social movement (if it can be considered one) begin, stabilize and effect social and political change? In order to debate these questions, we will approach Black Lives Matter activism and organizational practices vis-à-vis the set of theoretical concepts that social scientists have developed to study social movements broadly. Among other topics, we consider the movement with respect to its larger sociopolitical context, its political philosophy, forms of leadership, tactical strategies for protest, its frames and discourses as well as its noteworthy use of networked social media. Of particular focus is how BLM has come to influence thinking about race and class outside the United States – how it manifests as a transnational movement in different political contexts. The course literature will include original texts by activists from within the movement as well as social scientists without. At the completion of the course, students should be able to critically analyze BLM as an original case study in connection with one or more theoretical approaches on collective action.
- Dozent/in: Siri Lamoureaux