31402

Contentious Politics

Guram Kvaratskhelia

Kommentar

Why are some social and political movements successful, while others gradually fade away? What political opportunities and constraints do enduring features of political systems present for collective actors? And how are these shaped by shifting or temporary changes in political environments? Who participates in collective struggles, and why? How do collective actors choose their tactics and strategies, and what role do diffusion and learning play in shaping their approaches? These are some of the key questions that guide the study of contentious politics—a field that seeks to provide rigorous, social-scientific explanations for various forms of collective political struggle. This includes, but is not limited to, revolutions, social and political movements, strike waves, and nationalist mobilization. At the heart of the contentious politics literature is the idea that comparing different forms of collective action yields deeper insights into their dynamics and functioning than treating each as a separate phenomenon. This seminar introduces students to the core concepts and theoretical frameworks of contentious politics, with a focus on empirical studies of popular contention in the post-Soviet space. We will examine events such as the “color revolutions” in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan; the Maidan protests; the 2011–2012 Russian protests; as well as environmental movements and LGBTQI+ rights campaigns. The primary goal of the seminar is to equip students with the tools to think critically and analytically about the complex and multifaceted nature of popular contention. Schließen