Basic

International organizations, political analysis, political counseling

1. Introduction: Contentious Politics, Global Movements.
2. Contentious political actors in the global stage: Transnational Advocacy coalitions, global movements, global NGOs.
3. Fighting for justice in the global south. 
4. Global causes: peace, and environmental activism.
5. Social movements and identity: the global fight for gender and LGTBI equality. Religious movements.
6. Cycles of contention and the diffusion of protest: From Zapatismo to Occupy!
7. You have been recruited! Strategies of mobilization and participation in the global world.
8. Violence and the Repression of dissent.

These are taken from the officail document on ‘competencias’, at https://www.usal.es/grado-en-estudios-globales-global-studies/objetivos

CB2. Que los estudiantes sepan aplicar sus conocimientos a su trabajo o vocación de una forma profesional y posean las competencias que suelen demostrarse por medio de la elaboración y defensa de argumentos y resolución de problemas dentro de su área de estudio.

CB3. Que los estudiantes tengan la capacidad de reunir e interpretar datos relevantes normalmente dentro de su área de estudio de para emitir juicios que incluyan una reflexión sobre temas relevantes de índole social, científica o ética.

CB5. Que los estudiantes hayan desarrollado aquellas habilidades de aprendizaje necesarias para emprender estudios posteriores con un alto grado de autonomía.

CG1 - Aplicar los conocimientos adquiridos para resolver problemas concretos en entornos nuevos o poco conocidos dentro de contextos más amplios (o multidisciplinares).

CG2 - Conocer y aplicar los distintos métodos de investigación en el ámbito de las ciencias sociales para analizar problemas en relación con su especialidad.

CG3 - Desarrollar habilidades de organización, planificación de tareas y coordinación de proyectos que faciliten el trabajo en Equipo.

CE4 - Conocer los retos actuales para la justicia en un mundo globalizado así como el análisis de la situación de los derechos humanos en el mundo.

CE10 - Identificar y describir situaciones de pobreza y desigualdad. Identificar factores causales así como analizar la evolución y logro de distintos casos.

CE15 - Conocer las características de la acción colectiva y entender el funcionamiento de los movimientos sociales y sus principales características.

• Bennett, W. L., Della Porta, D., Diani, M., Johnson, E., Kolb, F., McAdam, D., ... & Sikkink, K. (2004). Transnational protest and global activism. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
• Fominaya, C. F. (2014). Social movements and globalization: How protests, occupations and uprisings are changing the world. Macmillan International Higher Education.
• Smith, J., & Wiest, D. (2012). Social movements in the world-system: The politics of crisis and transformation. Russell Sage Foundation.
• Tarrow, S. (2005). The new transnational activism. Cambridge university press.
• Tufekci, Z. (2017). Twitter and tear gas: The power and fragility of networked protest. Yale University Press.
• Kaldor, M. (2013). Global civil society: An answer to war. John Wiley & Sons.
• Smith, J. (2008). Social movements for global democracy. JHU Press.
• Guilhot, N. (2005). The democracy makers: Human rights and international order. Columbia University Press.
• Chabot, S., Ayres, J. M., & Caniglia, B. S. (2002). Globalization and resistance: Transnational dimensions of social movements. Rowman & Littlefield.

A detailed syllabus will be handed out to students at the beginning of the term.

Students must demonstrate a sufficient level of the required general, basic and specific skills to pass the course.

Evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

1/ Capacity to demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts, theories and events as explained throughout the course.

2/ Capacity to write in an adequately professional manner, showing command of the particularities of academic English.

3/ Capacity to communicate arguments, points of views and data.  

4/ Regular class attendance and good in class disposition towards academic excellence.

1. “Primera calificación”

• ‘In class evaluation exercises’ (3 x 15%). These are NOT exams in the traditional sense; instead, they are a set of exercises (summary of arguments, analysis of press releases, etc), based on readings, that students execute in class, with access to materials; some of them might include group discussions.
• 1 group/Individual presentation (group composition depending on class size) on an academic topic (25%).
• ‘Essay tasks’ (2 x 15%). Set of tasks that students prepare in their own time.

2. “Segunda calificación”

Written examination (in the English language), covering the entire list of topics discussed during the term.

Constant work during the different activities in which the continuous evaluations is divided. Active participation in theoretical master classes and seminars.

Intense individual work with course materials.