SP419 Half Unit
Social Movements, Activism, and Social Policy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Timothy Hildebrandt
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in China in Comparative Perspective, MSc in Criminal Justice Policy, MSc in Gender (Rights and Human Rights), MSc in International Social and Public Policy, MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Development), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Education), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (番茄社区 and Fudan), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Migration), MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations) and MSc in International Social and Public Policy (Research). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
All Social Policy Courses are ‘Controlled Access’.
Other than for students in the first category below, when applying for a course all students are required to provide a written statement explaining why they wish to take that course.
Statements are considered by the Course Convenor and, where merited by the statement, places are offered in the following priority order:
1. Students for whom the course is a ‘core course’ on their Programme Regulations (these students should already be allocated to the course in 番茄社区 for you – i.e. no written statement is required).
2. Students for whom the course appears as an ‘optional core course’ on their Programme Regulations (where students have to choose between a small number of core options).
3. Students for whom the course appears as an optional course on their Programme Regulations.
4. Other Social Policy students.
5. 番茄社区 students from Departments other than Social Policy.
Please note: The number of students that can be accommodated on most courses is limited. If a course is over-subscribed, places will be allocated at the Convenor’s discretion, based on student statements. Therefore, you are advised to have an alternative course in mind in case you are unable to secure your first-choice course selection.
If offered a place on a Social Policy course, please accept the place as early as possible. NB: Offers will ‘time-out’ after 48 hours and the place will be offered to another student. If you wish to reject an offer, please do so as early as possible so that the place can be offered to one of your fellow students.
Close of Course Selection is on the 10 October 2025 (dependant on availability of course places).
Please Note: No places will be offered on Social Policy courses UNTIL 1pm on 29th September 2025.
For queries contact: socialpolicy.msc@lse.ac.uk
Course content
The course begins by examining theories of social movements, collective action, and contentious politics. It then moves on to examine how social movements engage with the policy process and the ways in which social movement activism informs social policy formulation and implementation. It examines the nature, past and present roles of social movements and their potential capacity in shaping social policy in developed and developing countries, and in democratic, hybrid, or authoritarian regimes. The course covers theoretical arguments and examines empirical examples and case studies.
The course examines the following topics: the role and impact of social movement activism in identifying and meeting needs; the role of grassroots mobilizations and solidarity; how movements are affected by regulatory frameworks; how and when movements achieve their objectives; movements relations with other actors (including, NGOs, trade unions, political parties, etc.); populism.
The coure considers the development, transformation, autonomy, interdependence, and probity of social movements. It draws on examples of social movements in different periods, countries, and areas of activity to examine and analyse how change happens and the obstacles to change.
The course also offers an accompanying film programme with four film screenings and discussions in LT. The remaining films are for students to watch in their own time.
Teaching
15 hours of seminars and 15 hours of lectures in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
All teaching will be in accordance with the which specifies a minimum of two hours taught contact time per week when the course is running in the Autumn Term (AT) and/or Winter Term (WT). Social Policy courses are predominantly taught through a combination of in-person lectures and In person classes/seminars. Further information will be provided by the Course Convenor in the first lecture of the course.
Formative assessment
Mock exam
Indicative reading
- Castells, M. (2012). Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age.
- Della Porta, D. (2015). Social Movements in Times of Austerity.
- Escobar, A., & Alvarez, S.E. (1992). The making of social movements in Latin America: identity, strategy, and demoracy.
- Fox Piven, F., & Cloward, R. (1978). Poor People’s Movements: why they succeed, how they fail.
- Garza, A. (2020). The Purpose of Power.
- Glasius, M., & Ishkanian, A. (2015). Surreptitious Symbiosis: Engagement between activists and NGOs. Voluntas.
- Graeber, D. (2002). The new anarchists. New Left Review, 13, 61-73.
- Hildebrandt, T (2013) Social organizations and the authoritarian state in China
- James, C.L.R. (1989 [1963, 1938]. The Black Jacobins: Touissant L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution.
- Jasper, J. M. (2010). Social Movement Theory Today: Toward a Theory of Action?
- Jenkins, J. C. (1983). Resource mobilization theory and the study of social movements.
- Pleyers, G. (2011). Alter-Globalization: Becoming Actors in the Global Age.
- Polletta, F. (2002). Freedom is an endless meeting: Democracy in American social movements.
- Rochon, T. R., & Mazmanian, D. (1993). Social Movements and the Policy Process. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
- Seckinelgin, H. (2017) The politics of global AIDS: institutionalization of solidarity, exclusion of context
- Tarrow, S. (2011). Power in Movement.
- Weldon, L. S. (2011). When protest makes policy: how social movements represent disadvantaged groups.
Assessment
Exam (65%), duration: 120 Minutes in the Spring exam period
Course participation (10%)
Essay (25%)
Students will have a midterm assessment in WT worth 25% of the mark involving a 2000 word essay in response to a choice of questions; for 65% of their mark students will sit an in-person exam of 2 hours in ST wherein they choose to answer 2 questions from a selection of 8-10. Class participation makes up the remaining 10% of the overall course mark.
Key facts
Department: Social Policy
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 44
Average class size 2024/25: 15
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Application of information skills
- Communication