This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
The module explores forms of political mobilization, with a focus on political campaigning and advocacy in order to equip students with the capacity to analyse critically political mobilisation, as well as develop the skills to engage in a knowledgeable way in political campaigning and advocacy. The students will explore, with the help of academic supervisors and policy practitioners the conditions of success of national and transnational campaigns. The thematic scope of the module spans from campaign design in electoral mobilisation and protest politics to advocacy in conflict, international development, human rights and humanitarian organisations.
Total contact hours: 24
Private study hours: 176
Total study hours: 200
MA Political Strategy and Communication (as a core/mandatory module); as an elective module to all MA programmes at BSIS
Political campaign design, 1,500 (20%)
Essay, 3500 words (80%)
Reassessment methods: 100% coursework
Reading list (Indicative list, current at time of publication. Reading lists will be published annually)
Bob, Clifford. 2005. The Marketing of Rebellion: Insurgents, Media, and International Activism. Cambridge University Press
Kaufman-Lacusta, Maxine. 2011. Refusing to Be Enemies: Palestinian and Israeli Nonviolent Resistance to the Israeli Occupation. Ithaca Press. Norris, Pippa, Richard W. Frank, and Ferran Martínez i Coma (eds). 2015. Contentious Elections: From Ballots to Barricades, Routledge.
Libby, Pat. 2011. The Lobbying Strategy Handbook: 10 Steps to Advancing Any Cause Effectively, Sage Publications.
Zetter, Lionel. 2014. Lobbying: The art of political persuasion (3rd edition), Harriman House Publishers
de Waal, Alex. 2015. Advocacy in Conflict: Critical Perspectives on Transnational Activism. Zed Book Publishers.
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. Develop familiarity with the history of political mobilisation and social change as well as with some key theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of these phenomena;
2. Accrue a comprehensive knowledge and in-depth understanding of the practice of political campaigning and advocacy;
3. Inculcate a critical and reflexive attitude towards the various forms of political mobilisation (from lobbying to electoral campaigning);
4. Demonstrate and evaluate the utility of different approaches to political campaigning and advocacy;
5. Apply advanced theoretical perspectives to case studies;
6. Find, select, analyse, and use empirical material relating to political mobilization
7. Be able to conduct polling and surveys in politics, as well as critically assess surveys and use them in analyses of political mobilisation.
8. Recognise the normative dimensions of choices about the forms and means of political mobilization
The intended generic learning outcomes. On successfully completing the module students will be able to:
1. work with theoretical knowledge and apply theory to key policy issues
2. undertake analysis of complex, incomplete or contradictory areas of knowledge and make carefully constructed arguments
3. have a level of conceptual understanding that will allow them to critically evaluate research, policies, and practices and thus be better positioned to develop their own solutions to international challenges.
4. engage in academic and professional communication with others
5. have independent learning ability required for further study or professional work
6. use the Internet, bibliographic search engines, online resources, and effectively conduct research
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