Power and Protest: The History and Politics of Social Movements

Overview

This unit introduces students to some of the social movements that have shaped and are shaping western societies. Using case studies, it critically examines why and how these movements came about and assesses their cultural and political ramifications. Exploring a range of movements – including women’s fight for the franchise in the 19th and 20th centuries, the gay liberation movement of the 1970s and the rise of right-wing extremism from the 1980s – it looks at the myriad ways people have imagined and fought for social justice.

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

1. Identify, describe and evaluate key social movements that have shaped contemporary society
2. Locate, interrogate, and integrate primary and secondary sources in the development of an argument
3. Effectively communicate knowledge and understanding of the unit content in a written and spoken form
4. Critically engage with key debates in the relevant scholarly literature
5. Reflect critically on historical trends that have shaped contemporary society

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Assessment

Content

• The fight for the franchise; 
• Socialism and the labour movement;
• The new left and anti-war campaigns;
• The women’s movement;
• The gay liberation movement;
• Indigenous rights campaigns;
• The disability rights movement;
• The rise of right-wing extremism.