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• College of Social Sciences and International Studies

Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3069: Globalisation and the Politics of Resistance

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The main aim of this module is to critically explore the theory and practice of contemporary forms of ‘resistance’ politics - including trade union movements, women’s movements, ecological movements, youth movements, indigenous peoples’ movements, anti-capitalist activism, ‘black power’ and anti-racist movements, religious fundamentalisms, human rights campaigns etc - in light of three lines of inquiry. First, it turns to the theoretical/conceptual underpinning of the notion of resistance and seeks to address the following three questions: 1) Who is the subject of resistance?; 2) Under what conditions does resistance emerge?; 3) What kinds of practices are involved in resistance politics? How do we know resistance when we see it?

Second, it aims to empirically map three forms of concrete activism, examining the historically specific conditions under which it emerged, the different actors involved, their practices as well as their impact. The three case studies that we study are voted on and decided by the class and the reading list that accompanies each is put together co-operatively by all the students. When assessing each case we will reach for a comparative perspective asking what, if any, common ground these movements share and what tensions separate them.

Third, in the last part of the course, we identify and reflect on some of the political and theoretical dilemmas thrown up by studying and practising resistance politics. For example, what do we mean by ‘progressive’ movements? Indeed, what are our criteria for deciding who is ‘progressive’ (good) and who is ‘reactionary’ (bad)? Another, related question concerns what are the appropriate strategies for bringing about social change? What strategies are politically effective and which ones are counterproductive? Moreover, in terms of moral considerations which strategies are justifiable and, more particularly, is violence ever justified? If so, when? Finally, who speaks for whom in a movement? Is there an inherent tension between efforts to open up and democratise a movement, on the one hand, and gain political representation and leverage among ‘the powers that be’, on the other? While I have identified three possible dilemmas here, I am open to discussing others if there is an interest.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

Introduction - Overview of module aims and methods

Part I: Theorising The Politics of Resistance

• Who is the subject of resistance?
• Why does resistance emerge?
• What does it look and sound like?

Part II: Mapping Sites of Resistance

• Case studies to be determined by class. Past case studies include: the IRA, the Tamil Tigers, Hip Hop music, the global justice movement, art as resistance, gay rights, Hamas, the ANC, the Zapatistas, and the Iranian Revolution.

Part III: Dilemmas of the Politics of Resistance

• What is a progressive movement?
• Practising direct action, is violence ever justified?
• Another world is possible, but for whom?
• Unintended Consequences

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

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