BASS Politics and Sociology

The course introduces a range of theories and perspectives for analysing social movements and protest. It looks at key social movements, including the shift from the labour movement to new social movements, global social movements, and 'ugly' social movements, like terrorism. It also considers arguments about levels and forms of protest in modern societies, from debates about how the pandemic has (and might) affect protest, to suggestions that contemporary protest has changed from collective to more individualised forms.  

The course introduces you to a range of perspectives for analysing social movements and protest, and aims to link levels and forms of protest to competing views of power. We look at several theories drawn from the field of social movement studies and consider them in dialogue with case studies of historical and contemporary movements. We look at key social movements, including the shift from the labour movement to new social movements, global social movements, and 'ugly' social movements, like terrorism. We also consider arguments about levels and forms of protest in modern societies, from debates about how the pandemic has (and might) affect levels and forms of protest, to those who suggest that contemporary protest has changed from collective to more individualised practices of resistance.  

On completion of this unit successful students will be able to:

• Deploy a range of theories and perspectives to analyse historical and contemporary social movements
• Critically evaluate theories of protest
• Relate levels and forms of protest to theories and debates about the nature of power in modern societies
• Develop new approaches and arguments through independent research

3-hour weekly sessions, consisting of 2-hour lecture and 1-hour workshop

Formative Assessment: Non-assessed Protest Journal plus one essay plan (max. 500 words) 

Summative Assessment: Written assignment (inc essay) 2500 words (100%)

All sociology courses include both formative feedback – which lets you know how you’re getting on and what you could do to improve – and summative feedback – which gives you a mark for your assessed work.

Edwards, G. (2014) Social Movements and Protest. Cambridge University Press (course textbook)

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships and bursaries, including the Manchester Bursary , are available to eligible home/EU students.

Some undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.

You can get information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.