PSGE 342 - The Politics of Protest

Credits: (3)
This course is intended for two groups of students: (1) students with junior or senior standing from any major or (2) political science, or international studies majors with sophomore, junior, or senior standing. This course explores the nature of protests, social movements, and revolutions as forms of political behavior. The course aims to answer the following questions: How do we explain why people participate in a protest or other types of social movements? Why do some people never revolt, although observers would say they are as bad off as others that do? What factors determine the tactics people use once they decide something must be done? Can governments repress protests, revolutions, or social movements? What determines whether a protest, social movement, or revolution is successful? To answer these questions, we will focus on protests, social movements, and revolutions in different countries. Although the course focuses on Asian countries, especially South and Southeast Asia, students have a chance to discuss the history of protests and social movements in the United States.