Dr. Peter Marina

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI -- SAINT LOUIS

SYLLABUS

Power, Ideology, & Social Movements
Sociology 4316 Section 001
Spring 2012

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Instructor: Dr. Peter Marina

Course Description: As radical global political and economic movements spread throughout the world – and as nation-states and global capitalism increasingly come under attack – this timely course examines how power and ideology operate in the advanced modern world. From the occupy Wall Street Movement to the political struggles in the Middle East to the uprisings and social movements throughout Latin America, this course investigates the historical and institutional context that help explain uprisings and discontents in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. This course revisits some of the key works of Karl Marx and Marxist theory. We move on to major radical social thinkers, including political scientist Michael Parenti, linguist Noam Chomsky, and economist Richard Wolfe, among others, to get an alternative view from the dominant mainstream media. We will investigate the relationship between power and ideology and how social movements challenge the ideas of power that often takes the appearance of common sense. This course look at, among other things, the Cocalero movement in the Colombian Amazon, Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela, and the Chiapas movement in Mexico. This course concludes with an examination of the effect of events and social processes on thought and action in the late modern world. We look at the potential for social movements to produce new possibilities of alternative developments and large scale institutional change. Finally, the course looks at the social control of dissent in an anti-global capitalist and alter-global age. Radical social movements are currently taking place all over the world. Hegemony is now threatened. Let's talk about resistance.

Attributes: Upper Undergrad/Graduate Level, College of Arts & Sciences

Prerequisite: Prerequisites: SOC 1010 and junior standing or consent of instructor.

Required Books:

Armory Starr, Luis Fernandez, and Christian Scholl, Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era. NYU Press, 2011

Maria Ramirez, Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon. Duke University Press, 2011

Sujatha Fernandes, Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venzuela. Duke University Press, 2011

Michael Parenti, The Face of Imperialism. Paradigm Publishers, 2011

Noam Chomsky, Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force. Paradigm Publishers, 2011

Highly Recommended Books for the class:

Duncan Earl and Jeanne Simonelli, Uprising of Hope: Sharing the Zapatista Journey to Alternative Development. Altamira Press, 2005.

Grace Lee Boggs (with Scott Kurashige), The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the 21st Century. University of California Press, 2011

Kregg Hetherington, Guerrilla Auditors: The Politics of Transparency in Neoliberal Paraguay. Duke University Press, 2011

Julia Paley, Marketing Democracy: Power and Social Movements in Post-Dictatorship Chile. University of California Press, 2011

Web-based Class?

Although this is not a web-based class, all classes are posted online similar to a web-based class and accessible to all students in the Wimba section of Blackboard. Students are expected to attend all classes and will not receive credit for missing class. Students may use the classes posted online to review lectures and class discussions.

Course Requirements and Grading:

Power, Ideology, and Social Movements Final Paper and Wiki Page (40%)
This course requires you to write a 20 – 25 page paper (size 12 font in Times New Roman) on an instructor approved research topic related to social movements. You will keep a class wiki page organizing and documenting the progress of your research. Two oral presentations are required throughout the semester that show the progress and major findings of your paper. Part of this grade also requires you to contribute comments to other student's wiki page.

Mid-term and Final Exam (40%)
Short answer and essay questions.

Class Presentations (20%)
Students will give various presentations ten minute class presentations on selected topics and literature throughout the semester. On the day of the presentation, students should turn in a two page paper analyzing the reading and summarizing the main points of the class presentation.

Other notes on Grading

Excess lateness and absence may result in grade reduction.
All papers, presentations, wiki pages, and field reports must have a twelve size regular font and be typed, double spaced, dated, and numbered.

Weekly Agenda:

Students must read all assigned class literature prior to class discussion, including outside readings. Students are also requires to make short presentations on reading chapters throughout the week to compliment lectures.

Oral Presentation of Research Project
All students are required to present their research during a scheduled class period. The length of the presentation should be no more then 15 minutes. Students should prepare and rehearse their presentation to do it smoothly and not exceed the time limit. Make your presentation using an outline or note cards; do not read your presentation. The purpose of the oral presentation is to show that you understand key concepts, definitions, main findings, and can effectively communicate your research to a group of peers. Here are suggestions for oral presentation of the research paper:

Introduction

(a) Indicate what your research topic is and why you chose it (why you felt it was interesting and important).
(b) State your main finding(s).
Method
(a) Describe how you did your research (method of data collection and analysis)
(b) If you had preconceived expectations, opinions, or hypotheses about what you would find out, state what they were.
(c) Describe special problems or difficulties that hindered or limited your research.

Findings

(a) Describe the most important thing(s) you found out or learned about your topic.
(b) Consider the use of charts, tables, illustrations, etc. to make your presentation findings more effective.
Discussion
(a) In what ways were you surprised by your findings, or did they confirm what you expected?
(b) Make connections between your research findings and the concepts, theories, and findings we have discussed in class.
(c) Identify any unanswered questions from your research that could be researched in the future.

For an effective presentation, you should prepare a one-page handout to be distributed to the class. It may contain an outline of your whole presentation or you can use it to communicate key concepts, findings, illustrations, and references. Remember that you only have 15 minutes to present your work. Do not ramble; keep it succinct.
Sample Outline for Research Paper. Generally, your final paper should be divided up into the following eight sections (flexibility is allowed when appropriate):

Article Abstract
State the purpose of the paper, it's scholarly implications, and key findings. Keep it to 150-200 words.

Introduction
Indicate clearly and briefly the purpose of the research. Identify the major issues or problems the paper addresses and the major sources of data used in the paper. Succinctly state the core findings of the paper and how the paper will be organized. Do not report on every little detail and finding; be clear and to the point. This introduction section should be about three pages.

Literature Review
Summarize the current sociological research on the your topic. You should include other scholars' empirical findings, concepts, and theories that link your study with existing scholarly research on the same or similar topic. Search for the current state of sociological research on your topic in appropriate peer-reviewed journals and scholarly books.

Methods Section
If relevant, explain your methods of data collection and analysis. Put differently, describe how the research was done. Identify the types and sources of data collected (participant observation, interviews, journal notes, archives, secondary sources, documents, census material, etcetera). Include data in tables, graphs, and/or figures if you have large amounts of quantitative data. Put each table, graph, or figure on a separate page with a descriptive title over it. In the text of the research paper, refer to the table or figure by number and then explain it. Consult my lists of books in the required and recommended books sections in my sociological writing syllabus.

Sociological Analysis
Provide a general overview of your theoretical argument and then discuss the major findings of your research and data collection. You should show how your findings support your theory and relate to findings of other researchers. Refer to scholarly journals for examples on how to write your findings and implications. This section can be sub-divided into separate units.

Conclusion
Discuss the implications of your research. How is your research and its findings relevant and important to urban sociology? You should offer suggestions for future research.

References
You must have at least 15-20 citations in your reference section. Cites from textbooks, encyclopedia, or other non-scholarly sources do not count. You may include Internet sources when appropriate.

Wiki Project Instructions:
To create (or edit) a page:

From any page in the wiki, click on "New Page" (or "Edit Page" if you have already created it and are returning to edit).
Give your page a name. Format: Your last name, Your first name: short page title
You'll see a variety of "tools" to help you edit your page – you can choose different fonts, and font sizes, and format your text. You can also add images and links to other web pages (internal to this wiki, as well as to outside web pages). Click the Add Image or Add Link buttons, and follow the simple instructions)
There's no spell check in the wiki, so I recommend typing your essay in MS Word (or another word processor) and saving it. Then, copy the text.
Once you've copied text from a word processor, come back to your wiki page (make sure you are in the "edit" frame), click to place your mouse cursor in the page, and then press "Ctrl‑v" on the keyboard to paste your copied text.
If you know html, you'll find an icon just above the "Save" button that allows you to edit the source code.
Be sure to click the "Save" button when you are done!
Create only a single wiki page with references, bibliography, and relevant links and documentation.
You'll be evaluated for content, style, and presentation
One member is responsible for editing the 'home' page (first page you access when you enter the wiki) and to go through and link all of the other pages together.

Here are some guidelines for using the wikis:

Do not edit any other student's page. Pay attention to “where” you are when you do your editing.
The system does add your name and the date to pages you edit, and there is a log of previous versions – but making sure you only edit your own work is crucial.

Important Dates

Monday 2/13/2012: Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without receiving a grade.

Saturday 4/7/2012: Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a course.

Wednesday 5/9/2012: Final Exam

The UM-St. Louis Grading System
The grading system in all schools, colleges, and other parallel units at UM-St. Louis is based on a four-point scale. The grade value for each letter grade is as follows:

	A = 4.0	A- = 3.7
B+ = 3.3	B = 3.0	B- = 2.7
C+ = 2.3	C = 2.0	C- = 1.7
D+ = 1.3	D = 1.0	D- = 0.7
	F = 0.0

Classroom Procedures:

Please arrive on time.
Pay attention to lectures and discussions. All ideas are welcome in the classroom and are open to debate.
Please keep cell phones on silence or vibrate to prevent interruption in the flow of ideas and topics discussed in class.
The academic classroom functions as an arena of thought where ideas are created, debated, and challenged. Topics may become heated and controversial, that is part of the fun of academic life. Please remember to keep composure and express ideas respectfully to others.

Cheating and Plagiarism:

Cheating: The unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. The following are some examples of cheating:

Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work.
Unauthorized collaboration on a take home assignment or examination.
Taking an examination for another student, or asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you.
Allowing others to research and write assigned papers or do assigned projects including use of commercial term paper services.
Submitting someone else’s work as your own
Unauthorized us during an examination of any electronic devices such as cell phones, palm pilots, computers or other technologies to retrieve or send information.

Plagiarism: The act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. The following are some examples of plagiarism:- Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.

Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.

Note: Internet plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the Internet without citing the source, and “cutting and pasting” from various sources without proper attribution. Cheating and Plagiarism will not be tolerated, and if it occurs you will not receive credit for the assignment.

ADA Syllabus Statement

If a student has a disability that qualifies under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Disability Access Services Office for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders. Students can contact DAS if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.

Voice Telephone: 314.516.6554

TTY: 314. 516.5212

Course Outline and Required Readings (subject to modification):

Week 1: Introduction

1/18: Karl Marx, On the History of his Opinions (pp. 3 – 6, The Marx - Engels Reader)
Karl Marx, On the Jewish Question Part I (pp. 26 – 46, The Marx - Engels Reader)
Karl Marx, The German Ideology (148 – 175, The Marx - Engels Reader)

Outside Readings/Films:

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Week 2: Marx, Marxism, Ideology, and Power

1/23: Karl Marx, Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 (pp. 66 – 81)
Horkheimer and Adorno, Dialectic of Enlightenment (selected chapters)

1/25: Herbert Marcuse, One Dimensional Man (Chapter 1)
Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent (Chapters 1 and 2).

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 3: Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon

* For all Class Questions for Discussion on Between the Guerrillas and the State: Click Here

1/30: Introduction – Ch. 2: Maria Ramirez: Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon

2/1: Chapters 3 and 4: Maria Ramirez: Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 4: Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon

2/6: Chapters 4 – 6: Maria Ramirez: Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon

2/8: Chapters 7 and 8: Maria Ramirez: Between the Guerrillas and the State: The Cocalero movement, Citizenship, and Identity in the Colombian Amazon

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 5: Michael Parenti: The Face of Imperialism

* For all Class Questions for Discussion on The Face of Imperialism: Click Here

2/13: Chapters 1, 2, and 3: Michael Parenti: The Face of Imperialism

2/15: Chapters 4 and 5: Michael Parenti: The Face of Imperialism

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 6: Michael Parenti: The Face of Imperialism

2/20: Chapters 6, 7, and 8: Michael Parenti: The Face of Imperialism

2/22: Chapters 9 and 10: Michael Parenti: The Face of Imperialism

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 7: Field Report Presentations

2/27: Field Report Presentations

2/29: Field Report Presentations

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 8: Armory Starr, Luis Fernandez, and Christian Scholl, Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era.

* For all Class Questions for Discussion on Shutting Down the Streets: Click Here

3/5: Chapters 1 and 2: Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era

3/7: Chapters 3 and 4: Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 9: Armory Starr, Luis Fernandez, and Christian Scholl, Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era.

3/12: Chapters 5 and 7: Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era

3/14: Chapter 7 and Appendix A, B, and C: Shutting Down the Streets: Political Violence and Social Control in the Global Era

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 10: Noam Chomsky: Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force

* For all Class Questions for Discussion on Power and Terror: Click Here

3/19: Part I: Noam Chomsky Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force

3/21: Part II: Noam Chomsky Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 11: Spring Break

3/26: No Classes

3/28: No Classes

Week 12: Noam Chomsky: Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force

4/2: Part III: Noam Chomsky Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force
4/4: Part IV: Noam Chomsky Power and Terror: Conflict, Hegemony, and the Rule of Force

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 13: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

* For all Class Questions for Discussion on Who Can Stop the Drums: Click Here

4/9: Introduction and Chapter I: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

4/11: Chapters 2 and 3: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

Outside Readings/Films:
_________________________________________
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Week 14: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

4/16: Chapters 4: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

4/18: Chapters 5: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 15: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

4/23: Chapter 6: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

4/25: Chapter 7: Sujatha Fernandes: Who Can Stop the Drums: Urban Social Movements in Chavez's Venezuela

Outside Readings/Films:

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Week 16: Final paper Presentations

4/30: Final paper Presentations

5/2: Final paper Presentations

Final Exams/Papers Due 5/4