Module manager: Yuan Zeng
Email: y.zeng@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module explores the contested terrain of media, power, and civil resistance in contemporary societies. Combining theoretical foundations with practical case analysis, it examines how subaltern groups challenge dominant power structures and articulate alternative political possibilities in context. Engaging with critical theories of power and governance, postcolonial studies, feminist and queer theories, social movement studies, and critical media studies, the module investigates how power operates through discourse, representation, and institutions, and how diverse forms of resistance emerge and evolve. Particular attention is given to intersectional struggles, exploring how resistance is shaped by the entanglement of gender, race, class, sexuality, coloniality, and authoritarian governance. Students will work with real-world examples of civil resistance from a wide range of cultural and geopolitical contexts, analysing how media technologies, communicative practices, and narrative strategies shape both repression and resistance in context. Case studies may include Indigenous mobilisation, labour struggles, digital activism, feminist and queer activism, anti-authoritarian mobilisations, and environmental justice campaigns. Through lectures, seminars, and collaborative activities, the module equips students with critical tools to understand and evaluate contemporary struggles for democratic values and social justice. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
Critically analyse the operation of power and resistance in contemporary societies, drawing upon critical theories of power and governance, postcolonial studies, feminist and queer theories, social movement studies, and intersectional perspectives.
Evaluate the role of media technologies and communicative practices in enabling, constraining, or shaping strategies of civil resistance across different cultural and geopolitical contexts.
Apply theoretical insights to practical case studies, by critically evaluating real-world cases of civil resistance and designing students’ own collective activism campaigns.
Develop independent critical thinking and research skills, including the ability to synthesise theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence to assess the effectiveness, risks, and impact of diverse forms of civil resistance.
Communicate complex ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, through seminar discussions, presentations, and written assignments that integrate theory and practice.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Evaluate intersectional dimensions of civil resistance, demonstrating understanding of how gender, race, class, sexuality, coloniality, and authoritarianism interact to shape strategies, risks, and outcomes.
Assess the role of media and communicative practices in civil resistance, considering how digital and traditional media facilitate, constrain, or transform collective action.
Apply theories to practice by either designing a collective activism campaign or critically assessing a real-world case of civil resistance.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively.
Engage in independent research, including identifying, analysing, and critically evaluating sources relevant to media and civil resistance.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 9 | 1 | 9 |
| Private study hours | 280.8 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 19.2 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
The module provides multiple opportunities for students to receive formative feedback throughout the course:
Seminar oral feedback
Written feedback to mid-term assessment
Supervision session feedback on a formative final group project pitch
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay | 40 |
| Group Project | Group Project | 60 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 30/04/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team