Module manager: Vahideh Golzard
Email: V.Golzard@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module introduces students to key concepts and theories of social movements and examines how they emerge, what forms they take, what they seek to achieve, and whether they succeed in driving societal change. It focuses on local manifestations of social movements as they arise across cultures in response to global challenges, and includes the study of anti-colonial, environmental, student, sex- and gender-based, anti-globalisation, and religious movements in Europe, Latin America, East Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa. Comparative in scope, the module explores cross-cultural and cross-regional similarities and differences in social movement organisation and activism. 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.
The aim of this module is to equip learners to both understand and critically analyse social movements. This is achieved by exploring how social movements emerge, the forms they take, what they seek to achieve, and whether they succeed in driving societal change. Learners then apply this understanding by examining historical and contemporary movements from a range of global contexts, with a focus on identifying cross-cultural and cross-regional similarities and differences. In combining these two objectives, the module provides a structured approach to connecting theory with practice, allowing learners to assess the impact and significance of social movements in shaping society. The module is structured around interactive seminars and case-study sessions which allow learners to apply theoretical concepts to real-world examples. These sessions build progressively across the semester, introducing new movements and analytical approaches, and providing opportunities to compare and contrast different contexts. Peer discussion and analysis of case studies allows learners to see how others interpret and respond to social movements, facilitating first-hand engagement with both the theory and practice of social movement analysis.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to: 1. Critically evaluate major theories of social movements and related cultural theories and concepts, assessing their value for comparative analysis of social movements 2. Critically analyse the conditions, emergence and development of social movements using appropriate theoretical frameworks 3. Compare the diverse sociocultural and historical contexts shaping social movements globally. 4. Apply appropriate research methods to gather, interpret and evaluate empirical evidence 5. Construct coherent, evidence‑based arguments that critically evaluate competing perspectives. 6. Communicate complex ideas and information effectively in different written formats, adapting structure, tone and mode to audience and purpose
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 22 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
178
Formative feedback will be provided to all students as an integral part of the module. Students will receive written feedback on their review essay submissions, and opportunities to discuss and act on this feedback will be built into scheduled module sessions. This ensures that all students have guaranteed access to constructive guidance within the module itself.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Review | 60 |
| Coursework | Group Presentation | 40 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
NA
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Last updated: 30/04/2026
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