New perspectives on social movements and social change

Ph D Course: New perspectives on social movements and social change

3-5 June 2024

Forum for Civil Society and Social Movement Research, University of Gothenburg (CSM-RESIST)
Course Leaders: Håkan Thörn and Mattias Wahlström

With around 15 researchers studying different forms of social movements, the Department of Sociology and Work Science at the University of Gothenburg is one of the major research environments in Europe in the field. In order to further strengthen the environment, the Forum for Civil Society and Social Movement Research (CSM) was formed in 2011. In 2016, CSM merged with the network RESIST, which was formed by researchers studying different forms of “resistance”. The aims of CSM-RESIST are to develop and deepen our understanding of social movements, resistance, power and social change. RESIST has founded the international peer review journal Resistance Studies.

In 2018, Ph D students from across Europe and other parts of the world participated in our Ph D Course New Perspectives on Social Movements and Social Change. In June 2024, we present an updated version of the course.

Aims of the course: The international field of social movement studies is both extensive and productive. However, contemporary research is dominated by a small number of theoretical approaches and several researchers have voiced a need for theoretical renewal. Current research within CSM-RESIST has contributed to the development of new perspectives that aim to meet this theoretical need, often combined with innovative methodological approaches. In line with this research agenda, the aim of the course is to develop and deepen the participants’ knowledge about new theoretical and methodological perspectives on social movements and social change.

Target group: Doctoral students in social science and humanities with an interest in social movements, power and resistance, conflict, and/or social change.

Time and forms of teaching: Lectures and seminars will be organized on campus 3-5 June 2024. An online introduction to the course will be held on 29 April. An online paper seminar will be organized 30 September 2024.

Themes: The following themes are covered in the course:

Theoretical perspectives

• Social movements and social change (Håkan Thörn, Mattias Wahlström and Anton Törnberg, University of Gothenburg).
• Social movements and democracy (Christina Flesher Fominaya, University of Århus)
• Social movements and civil resistance: a historico-comparative perspective (Stephen Zunes, University of San Fransisco).
• Structural field of contention (Kerstin Jacobsson, University of Gothenburg).
• Gender and social movements (Katarzyna Wojnicka, University of Gothenburg)
• Critical theory and social movements (Carl Cassegård, University of Gothenburg).
• Social movements and grievances (Kjell Erling Kjellman, University of Oslo).

Methodological Perspectives

• Studying civil resistance – a comparative perspective (Stephen Zunes, University of San Fransisco).
• Analyzing movement texts (Håkan Thörn, University of Gothenburg)
• Social movements and visual analysis (Nicole Doerr, University of Copenhagen)
• How to study emotions in social movements (Åsa Wettergren, University of Gothenburg).
• Interpretive computational analysis of social movement discourse (Anton Törnberg, University of Gothenburg)
• Narrative analysis of social movements (Mattias Wahlström University of Gothenburg)

Final date for registration 15 February: irene.carlensberg@gu.se (please provide brief info about your thesis). Questions to Håkan Thörn (hakan.thorn@gu.se) or Mattias Wahlström (mattias.wahlstrom@gu.se)